Asia warming faster than global average, world’s most disaster-prone region in 2023: WMO

Asia was the region most impacted by climate change, weather and water-related hazards globally last year, Al Jazeera reported yesterday citing the United Nations weather agency WMO.

In a report published on Tuesday, the World Meteorological Organization said floods and storms were the main cause of casualties and economic damage in 2023, while the impact of heatwaves became more severe.

It highlighted that Asia has been warming faster than the global average, with temperature rises in 2023 averaging nearly 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1961-90 average.

The agency said 79 disasters linked with water-related weather hazards were reported in Asia last year. Of those, some 80 percent were floods and storms, with more than 2,000 deaths and nine million people directly affected.

The report also noted that most glaciers in the high mountain region in Asia had lost significant mass because of record-breaking high temperatures and dry conditions.

The UN organization emphasized the need for national weather services across Asia to improve tailored information to officials working on reducing disaster risks.