Asia’s Climate in Crisis: 2024 Sees Record Heat, Glacier Loss, and Ocean Extremes

Asia is enduring the brunt of global climate change at an alarming pace, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report. The report presents a stark picture of a continent warming at nearly twice the global average rate, with devastating consequences for ecosystems, economies, and communities.

Asia Warming at Twice the Global Rate

The average temperature across Asia in 2024 was approximately 1.04°C above the 1991–2020 baseline, making it the warmest or second warmest year ever recorded. The region’s warming trend from 1991 to 2024 is almost double that of the earlier period between 1961 and 1990, a reflection of the amplified effect of climate change on land masses compared to oceans.

Extensive heatwaves struck the continent from April to November, setting multiple monthly temperature records. Japan, the Republic of Korea, and China all experienced new high-temperature milestones. Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East also endured prolonged heat stress, with Myanmar hitting a national high of 48.2°C.

Oceans at the Boiling Point

Asia’s marine environment in 2024 was marked by unprecedented thermal stress. Average sea surface temperatures across the region’s oceans increased at a rate of 0.24°C per decade, double the global average. The result: the largest extent of marine heatwaves on record since 1993.

Marine heatwaves engulfed nearly 15 million square kilometers of ocean — about one-tenth of Earth’s total ocean surface — during August and September 2024. Critical zones such as the northern Indian Ocean and waters surrounding Japan and East China were especially impacted. These temperature spikes disrupt fisheries, coral ecosystems, and amplify tropical cyclones.

Moreover, the sea level along the Pacific and Indian Ocean coasts of Asia continues to rise faster than the global average, amplifying the risks to low-lying cities and island nations.

Glaciers Disappearing at Record Speed

The cryosphere, or frozen region of Asia, is melting fast. In 2023–2024, 23 of 24 monitored glaciers in the High-Mountain Asia region — including the Himalayas and Tian Shan ranges — recorded mass loss, driven by decreased winter snowfall and intense summer heat.

Urumqi Glacier No.1 in China’s Tian Shan Mountains reported its most negative mass balance since recordkeeping began in 1959. This rapid glacial decline poses a long-term threat to water availability for millions, while also heightening the risk of disasters such as glacial lake outburst floods and landslides.

Climate Disasters: Floods, Droughts, and Cyclones

The year also brought a cascade of extreme weather events:

• Flooding: Severe spring flooding in Kazakhstan and southern Russia forced the evacuation of 118,000 people — the worst such event in 70 years. In West Asia, the United Arab Emirates recorded 259.5 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours, an extraordinary event since 1949.

• Cyclones: Tropical Cyclone Yagi, the year’s strongest storm, caused widespread destruction and fatalities across Viet Nam, the Philippines, Lao PDR, Thailand, Myanmar, and China.

• Landslides: In Kerala, India, heavy monsoon rains exceeding 500 mm in 48 hours caused deadly landslides in July, claiming over 350 lives.

• Nepal: Record-breaking late September rainfall caused devastating floods, killing 246 people and causing over $94 million in damage. However, anticipatory action and early warning systems helped protect over 130,000 lives.

• Drought: China faced a prolonged drought affecting 4.8 million people, damaging over 335,000 hectares of crops, and resulting in $400 million in losses.

The Power of Early Warning

The report underscores that while Asia faces extreme climate threats, strategic preparedness can mitigate the damage. A case study from Nepal highlighted how investments in early warning systems and proactive disaster planning helped reduce health risks and saved lives during the 2024 floods.

WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo emphasized the urgency of acting on climate intelligence:

“Extreme weather is already exacting an unacceptably high toll. The work of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and their partners is more important than ever to save lives and livelihoods.”

Urgent Need for Regional and Global Action

The WMO’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 serves not only as a scientific record but also as a policy call-to-action. The intensifying frequency and severity of climate-driven disasters necessitate both immediate local adaptation and robust global climate mitigation strategies.

Without urgent emission reductions and climate resilience investments, Asia’s trajectory may become even more perilous in the years ahead.