Typhoons, storms, floods, droughts… In 2023, Asia was “the region of the world most affected by disasters” linked to weather according to a report released Tuesday by the UN. No less than 79 disasters associated with hydrometeorological hazards have been reported on this continent. Of these, more than 80% were floods and storms, which caused more than 2,000 deaths. Nine million people were directly affected.
“Many countries in the region experienced their hottest year on record in 2023, accompanied by a series of extreme conditions, from droughts and heatwaves to floods and storms,” the UN report said.
Drought in China and threatened glaciers in the Himalayas
The year 2023 was the hottest on record worldwide. But, in Asia, the impact of heat waves is becoming more and more severe, underlines the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), adding that the melting of glaciers – particularly in the Himalayan range – threatens resources in water in the region.
What’s more, Asia is warming faster than the global average, with temperatures last year almost 2°C higher than the average from 1961 to 1990. Japan just experienced its hottest summer on record while southwest China suffered from a drought, with below-normal precipitation levels in almost every month of the year. And 20 of the 22 glaciers in the Tibetan Range showed continued mass loss in 2023.
In conclusion of this alarming report, the WMO considers that it is urgent that the national meteorological services in the region produce data to better warn of risks. “It is imperative that our actions and strategies reflect the urgency of this time,” insists Celeste Saulo, its director. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change is a fundamental necessity,” she adds.