Asia Faces Severe Risks from Fast-Rising Temperatures
Asia is heating up nearly twice as fast as the global average, warns the World Meteorological Organization’s latest report. The State of the Climate in Asia 2024 highlights record-breaking temperatures, accelerated glacier melt, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events across the continent. The report underscores urgent concerns for freshwater sources, coastal populations, and biodiversity amid worsening climate impacts.
According to the WMO, 2024 was one of Asia’s hottest years, with average temperatures 1.04°C above the 1991–2020 baseline. This sharp rise is nearly double the global warming rate, placing the continent at heightened risk. Glacier systems in the Himalayas and Central Asia’s Tian Shan range are melting rapidly, jeopardising freshwater reserves for millions. These ecosystems play a crucial role in sustaining rivers and agricultural livelihoods across South and Central Asia.
Sea-surface temperatures across Asia’s coastlines also reached alarming highs in 2024. The report noted that sea levels along the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions are rising faster than the global average. This surge is exposing millions in coastal communities—including India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines—to higher risks of flooding and storm surges. The warming seas have already started affecting fisheries, marine ecosystems, and shoreline infrastructure, intensifying the urgency of coastal adaptation.
Extreme weather events surged across Asia in 2024, from deadly heatwaves to record-breaking floods. Parts of India and Japan experienced prolonged heat spells, claiming hundreds of lives. Central Asia saw its worst flooding in over seven decades, while Nepal and the UAE battled devastating rains and infrastructure collapses. The most powerful storm of the year, Tropical Cyclone Yagi, wreaked havoc in Southeast Asia, causing dozens of deaths and widespread displacement.
The report also recorded a dramatic rise in marine heatwaves, reaching a record 15 million square kilometres. This expansion has dealt a severe blow to marine biodiversity and coastal economies. Despite the devastation, the deployment of early warning systems and disaster preparedness helped reduce the potential death toll in several regions. However, experts stress the need for stronger national climate strategies, especially for disaster-prone countries navigating simultaneous ecological, health, and economic pressures.
As Asia experiences climate change more acutely than ever, the WMO report calls for urgent, coordinated action. Rising temperatures, sea levels, and weather extremes pose serious threats to life and livelihoods across the continent. Strengthening climate resilience, improving early warning systems, and investing in long-term adaptation must become regional priorities to avert future disasters and protect the world’s most populous and climate-vulnerable continent from irreversible damage.
