Latest news with #CelesteSaulo
India Today
3 days ago
- Climate
- India Today
Asia is heating up, and India is feeling the burn
Asia is warming nearly twice as fast as the rest of the world, and the consequences are becoming harder to ignore. According to the World Meteorological Organisation's latest State of the Climate in Asia report, 2024 was among the warmest years ever recorded on the continent. The average temperature across Asia last year was about 1.04 degrees Celsius above the 1991–2020 is Asia heating faster?Asia has the largest landmass of any continent, and according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, land surfaces tend to warm more quickly than oceans. However, Asia's surrounding seas are warming up just as fast — its sea surface temperatures rose at 0.24 degrees Celsius per decade, nearly double the global average of 0.13 degrees Celsius — and offer no substantial high vulnerability India, already one of the most climate-vulnerable countries due to its vast population, coastline, and dependence on agriculture, is facing the heat. The country faced one of its longest heat waves in 2024, with temperatures soaring above 45 degrees Celsius in several states, causing more than 450 experienced extreme weather events on 322 of the 366 days in 2024, which claimed 3,472 lives and damaged 4.07 million hectares of crop area. Between March and April 17, 2025, India saw a staggering 162 deaths from lightning strikes across 12 states, a 184per cent rise compared to the same period in rainfall events have also grown more frequent and more damaging. For instance, in late July 2024, northern Kerala's Wayanad was hit by massive landslides caused by heavy rains, which claimed more than 350 lives. An analysis by the World Weather Attribution later confirmed that this rainfall was about 10 per cent more intense due to human-driven climate in 2025, India witnessed extreme weather events nearly every day of the first quarter, per the State of India's Environment In Figures 2025 report. According to the report, the toll from extreme weather events surged in just three years, with weather-linked deaths rising by 15 per cent, and crop damage more than doubled."The State of the Climate in Asia report highlights changes in key indicators such as surface temperature, glacier mass, and sea level — each carries profound implications for societies, economies, and ecosystems," warned WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. "Extreme weather is already exacting an unacceptably high toll."Adapt to surviveDespite this, climate adaptation remains underfunded. A recent World Resources Institute report found that initiatives like building climate-resilient infrastructure, expanding early warning systems, and restoring natural ecosystems don't just protect lives, but also work economically. Every $1 spent on adaptation can yield up to $10 in savings and benefits over the next floods, droughts, and heatwaves intensify across the globe, the case for acting now before the next disaster hits has never been stronger.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Scoop
5 days ago
- Climate
- Scoop
Asia Is Warming Twice As Fast As The Rest Of The World
23 June 2025 While there are records which exist to be broken – Olympic ones, for example -these monthly temperature extremes are not medal worthy. And yet, China was not the only Asian country to set a flurry of new highs in 2024. The continent is warming twice as fast as the global average, according to a report released Monday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This rate of warming – which shows no signs of stopping – is leading to devastating consequences for lives and livelihoods across the region, and no country is exempt from the consequences. 'Extreme weather is already exacting an unacceptably high toll,' said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo on Monday. Large landmass, warmer temperatures The WMO report said that Asia is warming twice as fast as global averages because of its large landmass, explaining that temperatures over land increase more quickly than those over sea. 'Variations in surface temperature have a large impact on natural systems and on human beings,' the report said. The oceans around Asia are also experiencing temperature increases with surface temperatures in the Indian and Pacific Oceans reaching record levels in 2024. Moreover, prolonged heat waves, both on land and sea, wreaked havoc across the region, leading to melting glaciers and rising sea levels. Too much and too little water Some countries and communities in Asia were ravaged by record rainfall. Northern Kerala in India, for example, experienced a fatal landslide which killed over 350 people. Record rainfall coupled with snow melt in Kazakhstan, which is home to thousands of glaciers, led to the worst flooding in 70 years. Others were ravaged by the exact opposite problem – not enough rainfall. A summer long drought in China, for example, affected over 4.76 million people and damaged hundreds of thousands of hectares of crops. WMO emphasized in the report that the only way to adapt to these increasingly polar weather patterns is to install more comprehensive early warning systems which are coupled with capacity building measures that enable communities to be more resilient. Nepal: A case study in preparedness The WMO report lauded the success that Nepal has had in installing early warning systems which monitor flooding risks, among other things, even as it said that more comprehensive action was necessary. Between 26 and 28 September 2024, Nepal experienced extreme rainfall which created landslides and flooding across large swaths of the country. 246 people were killed, 178 injured and over 200 missing in the wake of the climate emergency. While the impact of the crisis was extreme, early flood warning systems enabled communities to prepare for evacuation in addition to crisis responders to reach the worst hit regions quickly. 'This is the first time in 65 years that the flooding was this bad. We had zero casualties thanks to preparedness and rescue measures, but the damage was extensive,' said Ramesh karki, Mayor of Barahakshetra, an affected municipality in Eastern Nepal. Moreover, comprehensive national protocols on emergency funding ensured that funding for humanitarian and rebuilding needs was quickly dispersed throughout the country. WMO said that they are working with the Nepalese government and other partners to continue improving upon these systems. 'The work of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and their partners is more important than ever to save lives and livelihoods,' Ms. Saulo said.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Asia warming twice as fast as global average
NEW DELHI: Asia is currently warming nearly twice as fast as the global average with the 19912024 trend almost double of that of 1961-1990, fuelling more extreme weather and wreaking a heavy toll on the region's economies and ecosystems, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Monday. It said that 2024, which recorded a rise of 1.04°C above the 19912020 average, was the warmest or second-warmest year on record (depending on different global datasets), with widespread and prolonged heat waves. WMO also flagged multiple extreme weather events that hit India last year, including rain-linked landslides in Kerala's Wayanad that killed more than 350 people and lightning that claimed around 1,300 lives across country. WMO's 'State of the Climate in Asia' report noted that many parts of the region experienced extreme heat events in 2024, with several parts of India experiencing 'intense heatwaves', leading to more than 450 deaths in the country. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo It also highlighted that 23 out of 24 glaciers in the high-mountain Asia region 56 (centred on the Tibetan plateau) showed continued mass loss during 2023/2024. 'Reduced winter snowfall and extreme summer heat in central Himalayas (most of Nepal, Tibet, and Sikkim in India) and most of Tian Shan (the mountain range shared by China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan) intensified mass loss for most glaciers,' it said. Mass loss for most glaciers in the region is quite worrying as 10 of Asia's largest rivers, such as Indus, Brahmaputra and Ganga, originate in Hindu Kush Himalayas . Since these rivers provide water for a quarter of the world's population, such a huge loss may impact water availability in future if the warming trend continues. Live Events The report highlights '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. Extreme weather is already exacting an unacceptably high toll,' WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo said. Asia is the continent with the largest land mass extending to the Arctic and is warming more than twice as fast as the global average because temperature increase over land is larger than temperature increase over the ocean. 'In 2024, most of the ocean area of Asia was affected by marine heatwaves of strong, severe or extreme intensity, the largest extent since records began in 1993,' the report said.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Asia warming twice as fast as global average, warns WMO report
Dehradun: Asia is warming at nearly twice the global average, with temperatures rising by 1.04°C above the 1991–2020 baseline in 2024, according to the World Meteorological Organisation's (WMO) 'State of the Climate in Asia 2024' report released on Monday. The warming trend from 1991 to 2024 was nearly double the rate seen from 1961 to 1990, the report said, adding that depending on the dataset, 2024 was either the warmest or second warmest year on record in Asia. Large parts of the continent faced extreme heat last year. In Jan, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that 2024 was India's warmest year since 1901. According to a recent report by Delhi-based Council on Energy, Environment & Water (CEEW), India experienced its longest heatwave since 2010, with many states recording daytime temperatures over 40°C for an entire month. This resulted in over 44,000 heatstroke cases. The WMO also noted that several parts of India endured "intense heatwaves," contributing to more than 450 deaths. Record-breaking heatwaves struck countries across East, Southeast, Central, and West Asia. Myanmar logged a new national temperature high of 48.2°C. Sea surface temperatures also reached unprecedented levels, with Asia's ocean warming rate nearly double the global average. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cuối cùng, chơi miễn phí game chiến thuật hay nhất 2025! Sea of Conquest Phát ngay Undo Marine heatwaves impacted nearly 15 million sq km — about 10% of Earth's surface — with the northern Indian Ocean and waters off East Asia among the hardest hit. Rising ocean temperatures were accompanied by accelerated sea level rise along Asia's Indian and Pacific Ocean coasts, heightening risks for low-lying nations. The report also found that 23 of 24 monitored glaciers in high-mountain Asia, including the Himalayas and Tian Shan ranges, continued to lose mass in 2024. This raised the risk of glacial lake outburst floods and threatened long-term water security. "These changes will have major repercussions for societies, economies, and ecosystems in the region," said WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo. "Extreme weather is already exacting an unacceptably high toll." Asia witnessed multiple extreme weather events in 2024. Tropical Cyclone Yagi, the year's most powerful, hit Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, and China, leaving a trail of destruction. Central Asia saw its worst flooding in 70 years due to record snowmelt and rainfall, displacing over 118,000 people. In India, over 350 people died in Kerala after more than 500mm of rain fell within 48 hours in late July, triggering deadly landslides. In Nepal, record rainfall in Sept caused floods that killed at least 246 people and resulted in over $94 million in damage. The United Arab Emirates also recorded one of its heaviest downpours in decades -- 259.5mm in 24 hours, while in stark contrast, drought in China affected nearly 4.8 million people and caused over $400 million in agricultural losses. Despite the devastation, the report also highlighted progress in disaster preparedness. A case study from Nepal showed that improved early warning systems and anticipatory action helped protect over 130,000 people from climate hazards. WMO stressed the critical role of national meteorological and hydrological services in saving lives and livelihoods as climate extremes intensify. Their work, the report said, is more essential than ever for adaptation and resilience planning across Asia.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Asia warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, wreaking a heavy toll on the region's economies: WMO
Representational image NEW DELHI: Asia is currently warming nearly twice as fast as the global average with the 1991–2024 trend almost double that of 1961–1990, fuelling more extreme weather and wreaking a heavy toll on the region's economies and ecosystems, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Monday. It said that the year 2024 with recording rise of 1.04 degree C of temperature above the 1991–2020 average was the warmest or second warmest year on record with widespread and prolonged heat waves, and flagged the multiple extreme weather events that hit India last year, including rains-linked landslides in Kerala's Wayanad district that killed more than 350 people and lightning that claimed around 1300 lives across various parts of the country. The WMO's State of the Climate in Asia report noted that many parts of the region experienced extreme heat events in 2024 with several parts of India experiencing 'intense heatwaves', leading to more than 450 deaths across the country. It also highlighted that 23 out of 24 glaciers in the high-mountain Asia region (centred on the Tibetan Plateau) showed continued mass loss during 2023/2024. 'Reduced winter snowfall and extreme summer heat in the central Himalayas (most of Nepal, Tibet Autonomous Region in China and Sikkim in India) and most of the Tian Shan (the mountain range shared by China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan) intensified mass loss for most glaciers,' it said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Adidas Three Shorts With 60% Discount, Limited Stock Available Original Adidas Shop Now Undo Mass loss for most glaciers in the region is quite worrying as 10 of Asia's largest rivers - including the Indus, Brahmaputra, and Ganges - originate in the Hindu Kush Himalayas. Since these rivers provide water for a quarter of the world's population, such a huge loss may impact water availability in the future if the warming trend continues. 'The State of the Climate in Asia 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. Extreme weather is already exacting an unacceptably high toll,' said WMO secretary-general Celeste Saulo. Asia is the continent with the largest land mass extending to the Arctic and is warming more than twice as fast as the global average because the temperature increase over land is larger than the temperature increase over the ocean. 'In 2024, most of the ocean area of Asia was affected by marine heatwaves of strong, severe, or extreme intensity – the largest extent since records began in 1993,' said the report.
