1: Revisiting the Downpour: Overview of the ‘State of the Climate in Asia 2023’ Report

  • As per the 'State of the Climate in Asia 2023' by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Asia topped the chart with the highest number of disasters worldwide in 2023.
  • Nearly 79 events pertaining to extreme weather, climate, and water-related hazards directly affected over 9 million people and claimed more than 2,000 lives.
  • Despite a slight drop in the disaster count compared to 2022, the severity of impacts remained significant.
  • The average temperature in Asia was 0.91°C higher than the 1991–2020 reference period, marking it as the second-highest on record.

2: Dance of the Elements: Climate Aberrations and Natural Events

  • Notable climatic anomalies included extreme heat events across the continent, with Japan witnessing its hottest summer ever.
  • Glaciers in High-Mountain Asia have lost substantial mass over the past four decades, accelerated by record-breaking temperatures and dry conditions in the Eastern Himalayas and Tien Shan in 2023.
  • Coastal regions faced the brunt of increasing sea-surface temperature anomalies- the highest on record in the northwest Pacific Ocean.
  • Numerous areas suffered the consequences of meteorological hazards like drought in south-west China due to abnormally low precipitation and widespread flooding in Yemen due to heavy rainfall.

3: India on the Climate Spectrum: Impact of Extreme Weather

  • India felt the weight of climate extremes with several severe weather events inducing devastating effects.
  • Devastating heatwaves took about 110 lives, majorly older individuals with existing health conditions, predominantly in Uttar Pradesh.
  • Torrential rainfall led to flooding in August 2023 damaging infrastructure, claiming 25 lives in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
  • Six tropical cyclones formed in the North Indian Ocean, slightly above the average annual frequency.
  • Additional climatic upheaval included a major glacial lake outburst at South Lhonak Lake in Sikkim that killed over 40 people.

4: Preparing for the Climate Future: Approaches and Strategies

  • The report accentuates the glaring gap in climate projection and tailored products necessary for long-term interventions such as climate change adaptation and mitigation.
  • Presently, under 50% of WMO Members provide tailored products, underpinning inadequacy, given Asia's high vulnerability to climate-related disasters.
  • By 2030, annual losses in Asia due to extreme weather events are expected to exceed USD 160 billion, equivalent to approximately 0.6% of the region's GDP.
  • The urgency to bolster efforts and provide more tailored support products for effective medium and short-term activities and interventions for disaster risk mitigation are accentuated.