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Asia Warming Twice as Fast, WMO Warns of Extreme Climate Impact
Asia is warming nearly 2x faster than the global average, warns WMO. 2024 brought record heatwaves, glacier loss, marine heatwaves & deadly floods.
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-23
Asia Warming Twice as Fast, WMO Warns of Extreme Climate Impact

A new report released Monday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has sounded a grave alarm for the Asian continent, revealing that Asia is currently warming at nearly twice the global average — triggering more extreme weather events, glacier melt, sea-level rise, and heavy economic damage across the region.

The 2024 edition of the "State of the Climate in Asia" report documents a disturbing acceleration of warming trends, glacier retreat, and record-breaking marine and atmospheric heatwaves. The continent experienced its warmest or second-warmest year on record, depending on the dataset, and the period from 1991 to 2024 saw nearly double the warming compared to 1961–1990.

“The 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,” said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo.

 

🔹 Key Findings:

·       🔥 Land temperatures in Asia are increasing faster than global averages due to the continent’s vast land mass and proximity to the Arctic.

·       🌊 Sea surface temperatures reached record highs in 2024, with marine heatwaves affecting nearly 15 million square kilometers — equivalent to 10% of the Earth’s ocean surface.

·       🏔 23 out of 24 glaciers in High-Mountain Asia (HMA), including the Himalayas and Tian Shan, suffered continued mass loss due to reduced winter snowfall and extreme summer heat.

·       🌊 Sea level rise on the Pacific and Indian Ocean coasts of Asia exceeded the global average, posing a dire threat to low-lying areas.

·       ❄️ Arctic sea ice surrounding northern Asia melted at alarming levels, with the ice edge retreating far northward by late summer.

 

🔹 Human and Economic Impact:

·       ⛈ Kazakhstan and southern Russia witnessed the worst flooding in 70 years, with 118,000 evacuations caused by snowmelt and heavy rains.

·       ☔ In the United Arab Emirates, a staggering 259.5 mm of rain fell in just 24 hours — the most extreme precipitation event since 1949.

·       🌾 Drought hit parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mongolia, and the Russian Far East, devastating agriculture and causing food insecurity.

·       🌀 Tropical cyclones, flash floods, and extreme rainfall events caused widespread loss of life, property damage, and agricultural decline.

 

🔹 The Role of Early Warning Systems:

Despite the grim outlook, the report offers a glimmer of hope. A case study from Nepal showcased the success of early warning systems and anticipatory action, which enabled communities to better prepare for disasters and reduce loss of life.

“The work of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and their partners is more important than ever to save lives and livelihoods,” said Celeste Saulo.

 

🔹 Conclusion:

The report underscores the urgency of climate action at every level — from global policy frameworks to local preparedness. With the continent home to nearly 5 billion people, the consequences of inaction could be catastrophic.

 
Tagged:

ClimateCrisis

GlobalWarming

WMO2024

AsiaHeatwave
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