In its latest report, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) revealed that Asia was the region most impacted by climate disasters globally in 2023. Floods and storms emerged as the leading causes of casualties and economic damage, while the severity of heatwaves intensified. The WMO report emphasizes that Asia is warming at a faster rate than the global average, with temperatures rising nearly 2 degrees Celsius above the 1961-90 average in 2023.
Soaring temperatures and extreme conditions
Many countries in Asia experienced record-breaking temperatures in 2023, along with a series of extreme climate disasters including droughts, heatwaves, floods and storms. “Climate change exacerbated the frequency and severity of such events, profoundly impacting societies, economies, and, most importantly, human lives and the environment that we live in,” stated WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo in a statement.
The report revealed that floods were the leading cause of death in reported events, with Hong Kong experiencing its highest rainfall on record due to a typhoon. The WMO revealed that 79 water-related climate disasters impacted Asia last year. Of those, around 80 were floods and storms. Moreover, most glaciers in Asia’s high mountain region have witnessed significant mass loss due to unprecedented high temperatures and dry conditions.
Glaciers lose significant mass
The WMO report also revealed that most glaciers in the high mountain regions in Asia lost significant mass due to record-breaking high temperatures and dry conditions. In the Himalayas and the Hindu Kush mountain ranges, precipitation levels were below normal. Meanwhile, southwest China suffered from a drought, with below-normal precipitation levels in nearly every month of 2023. From western Siberia to Central Asia and from eastern China to Japan, the report noted particularly high average temperatures. Moreover, Japan had the hottest summer on record in 2023.
Urgent climate action is needed
The report’s release coincides with severe flooding in various Asian countries, highlighting the urgent need for action to mitigate climate disasters. The WMO stressed the importance of national weather services improving tailored information to mitigate climate disaster risks. Moreover, there is an urgent need to advance services that address strategies and interventions to effectively mitigate rising climate disaster risks.
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