The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that Asia experienced the highest number of climate-related disasters in 2023, mainly due to devastating floods and storms. The region witnessed 79 hydro-meteorological events, with over 80% of them being floods and storms that claimed more than 2,000 lives. According to WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo, these extreme events were compounded by climate change, resulting in increased frequency and severity. Asia is warming at a rate faster than the global average, leading to record-breaking high temperatures across vast areas, from western Siberia to central Asia, and from eastern China to Japan. The report emphasized the significant mass loss experienced by glaciers in Asia’s high-mountain regions, attributed to the combination of high temperatures and dry conditions.
Asia Emerges as Most Disaster-Hit Region Amid Rising Climate Hazards
