In News:

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has released its annual State of the Climate in Asia 2024report, highlighting alarming trends in climate change impacts across the Asian continent. The report confirms that Asia is warming at nearly twice the global average, causing severe socio-economic and environmental consequences.

Key Climate Trends and Indicators in Asia (2024)

• Record Heat:The year 2024 was the warmest year in Asia’s history, marked by prolonged and widespread heatwaves across land and oceanic areas.
• Global Comparison:The global mean temperature in 2024 was the highest on record (1850–2024), surpassing the previous record of 1.45°C set in 2023. Each year between 2015 and 2024 ranks among the 10 warmest globally.
• Sea Surface Temperatures & Marine Heatwaves:Sea surface temperatures reached record highs,with Asian waters warming nearly twice as fast as the global average. Most Asian ocean areas experienced strong to extreme marine heatwaves, especially in the northern Indian Ocean, East China Sea, Yellow Sea, and waters near Japan.
• Sea Level Rise:Sea levels rose faster than the global average on both Pacific and Indian Ocean coasts of Asia, exacerbating risks for low-lying coastal areas.

Cryospheric Changes and Glacier Loss

• In Central Himalayas and Tian Shan ranges, 23 out of 24 monitored glaciers experienced mass loss in 2024.
• Consequences included increased risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), landslides, and long-term threats to water security.

Scientific Warnings and Observations

The report highlights that the warming trend from 1991 to 2024 in Asia is nearly twice as fast as that between 1961 and 1990, underlining the acceleration of climate risks.

Implications for Asia

• Environmental:Rapid glacier melt, rising sea levels, and extreme weather are disrupting ecosystems, causing habitat loss and biodiversity decline.
• Economic:Agriculture, fisheries, and coastal infrastructure are suffering massive losses due to droughts, floods, and storms.
• Social:Heatwaves, displacements, and disaster-related fatalities are disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including the poor and elderly.