The latest State of the Climate in Asia report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has revealed that the continent is currently warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, fueling more extreme weather and wreaking a heavy toll on the region’s economies, ecosystems and societies.
According to the report, 2024 was one of the warmest on record with widespread and prolonged heatwaves. The warming trend between 1991-2024 was almost double that during the 1961-1990 period, the report states.
In 2024, heatwaves gripped a record area of the ocean, with sea surface temperatures the highest on record and Asia’s sea surface decadal warming rate nearly double the global average.
Sea level rise on the Pacific and Indian Ocean sides of the continent exceeded the global average, heightening risks for low-lying coastal areas, while reduced winter snowfall and extreme summer heat were punishing for glaciers, according to the report. In the central Himalayas and Tian Shan, 23 out of 24 glaciers suffered mass loss, leading to an increase in hazards like glacial lake outburst floods and landslides and long-term risks for water security.
The report also says that extreme rainfall wreaked havoc and heavy casualties in many countries in the region, and tropical cyclones left a trail of destruction, while drought caused heavy economic and agricultural losses.
“The State of the Climate in Asia report highlights the changes in key climate indicators such as surface temperature, glacier mass and sea level, which will have major repercussions for societies, economies and ecosystems in the region. Extreme weather is already exacting an unacceptably high toll,” said WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo.
“The work of national meteorological and hydrological services and their partners is more important than ever to save lives and livelihoods,” she added.
The report includes a case study from Nepal, showing how strengthened early warning systems and anticipatory action enable communities to prepare for and respond to climate variability and change, thereby helping to protect lives and livelihoods.
The State of the Climate reports are flagship reports of WMO and provide policy-relevant information for national and regional decision-making.
In related news, according to the latest Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), global climate predictions show temperatures are expected to continue at or near record levels in the next five years, increasing climate risks and impacts on societies, economies and sustainable development