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Asia Warming Twice as Fast as Global Average: WMO Report Warns of Deadly Climate Crisis
Asia warming nearly twice as fast as global average: WMO report
Context: The State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) reveals that Asia is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average. This accelerated warming is causing more frequent and intense heatwaves, glacier retreat, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events like floods and cyclones.
Why is Asia warming faster than the global average?
- According to the WMO, land areas warm faster than oceans, and Asia has the largest continental landmass, covering over 44.58 million square kilometers. This makes the continent especially vulnerable to land-based temperature increases.
- Additionally, proximity to the rapidly warming Arctic further exacerbates temperature rises in northern Asia.
- Global average temperature has already risen by approximately 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels. In Asia, the increase has been twice this rate since the 1990s.
Where are the most concerning changes occurring?
- High-Mountain Asia (HMA) — including the Himalayas, Tian Shan, and Hindu Kush — witnessed continued glacier mass loss in 23 out of 24 glaciers.
- Northern Indian Ocean, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea saw record-high sea surface temperatures and severe marine heatwaves.
- Central Asia (Kazakhstan and southern Russia) faced the worst flooding in 70 years, displacing over 118,000 people.
- UAE experienced one of its most extreme rainfall events since 1949, receiving 259.5 mm of rain in just 24 hours.
- The Wayanad landslide in Kerala, India, caused by record-breaking one-day rainfall, killed over 220 people, and was linked to a 10% increase in rainfall intensity due to climate change.
Who is affected by these climate changes in Asia?
Everyone — but especially:
- Low-lying coastal communities in South and Southeast Asia, who face rising sea levels and storm surges.
- Mountain communities depending on glaciers for freshwater, facing glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and reduced snowmelt.
- Farmers facing altered rainfall patterns and droughts, particularly in regions like Afghanistan, Mongolia, and parts of Russia.
- Urban populations, as seen in New Delhi and Dubai, are hit by record heatwaves and flooding.
How are these changes impacting the economy and environment?
- Water stress due to reduced glacier mass impacts agriculture, hydropower, and drinking water availability.
- Floods and landslides destroy infrastructure, displace communities, and strain disaster relief resources.
- Heatwaves reduce labour productivity, particularly in outdoor sectors like construction and agriculture.
- Droughts affect crop yields, raising food insecurity and inflation risks in vulnerable economies.
How are governments and institutions responding to these challenges?
- The WMO highlights the importance of early warning systems, citing Nepal as a success case for anticipatory climate action.
- National Meteorological and Hydrological Services across Asia are playing a critical role in forecasting and public preparedness.
- However, international cooperation is under strain. For instance, budget cuts under the Trump administration to US agencies like NOAA may undermine global climate modelling and data sharing efforts.
