World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released a report titled “The State of the Climate in Asia 2023,” which sheds light on the alarming impact of climate change.The report highlights the severe consequences of extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and environmental changes in the Asian continent.
Key Highlights of the Report
Asia as Most Disaster-Prone Region
- Asia experienced 79 extreme weather events in 2023, affecting over nine million people.
- Over 2,000 deaths were directly attributed to these disasters.
- Floods and storms caused the highest number of casualties and economic losses in Asia in 2023.
- The report noted that Asia has warmed faster than the global average and the warming trend has nearly doubled since the 1961-1990 period.
- The accelerating rate of key climate change indicators such as surface temperatures, glacier retreat and sea level rise will have major consequences for Asia, its economy and ecosystems, the report emphasised.
Impacts on India
- India faced severe heatwaves, rainfall-induced floods, glacial lake outbursts, and tropical cyclones.
- In April and June 2023, severe heat waves led to approximately 110 deaths due to heatstroke, with temperatures reaching 42-43 degrees Celsius in certain regions.
- A prolonged heatwave also affected much of Southeast Asia in April and May, extending westwards in Bangladesh and eastern India, and parts of China too.
- Flood events in August 2023 resulted in significant deaths in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and agriculture.
- Six tropical cyclones formed in the North Indian Ocean, with four making landfall in India.
- The cyclone activity was slightly above the average, the report noted. Four out of the six cyclones – Mocha, Hamoon, Midhili and Michaung – formed over the Bay of Bengal and two – Biparjoy and Tej – formed over the Arabian Sea.
- The eastern and northern parts of India witnessed the highest temperature rise compared to the 1991-2021 average.
- The Sea level rise in the Bay of Bengal was 30% above the global average, particularly in the Sundarbans region, and was among the highest in the region.
Soaring Temperatures and Melting Glaciers
- The annual mean near-surface temperature over Asia in 2023 was the second-highest on record.
- The High Mountain Asia region, containing the largest volume of ice outside of the polar regions, is under threat due to melting glaciers.
Below-Normal Precipitation and Killer Floods
- Precipitation was below normal across almost the entire Asian region in 2023.
- Despite overall less precipitation, over 80% of reported hydrometeorological hazards in Asia were flood and storm events, leading to fatalities and affecting millions.
- Floods were the leading cause of death in reported events, particularly in India, Yemen, and Pakistan.
Need for Robust Climate Finance
- The report emphasises the need for robust climate finance mechanisms to scale up adaptation and address loss and damage in developing countries of Asia.
World Meteorological Organisation
- The WMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations, serving as the authoritative voice on Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, climate, and water resources.
- The WMO originated from the International Meteorological Organisation (IMO), a non-governmental organisation that became a specialised agency of the United Nations in 1951.
- This transformation allowed it to better address the international aspects of meteorology.
- WMO’s primary headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland, and it boasts a membership of 192 Member States and Territories, including India.
- The governance structure of WMO comprises the World Meteorological Congress as the supreme body.
- WMO is organised into six regional associations and eight technical commissions, each focusing on specific aspects of meteorology, hydrology, and related sciences.
- On 23rd March, the WMO celebrates the establishment of the Convention on 23 March 1950 as World Meteorological Day.
- It highlights the important role of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services for society’s safety and well-being and is marked with global activities.