In 2023, Asia faced a series of disasters, as detailed in the World Meteorological Organization's report. The region saw a high number of casualties and economic losses due to floods, storms, and heat waves. The impact of increasing sea-surface temperatures in the northwest Pacific Ocean and a marine heat wave in the Arctic Ocean highlighted the severity of climate-related challenges faced by Asian countries.
The report emphasized that climate change played a significant role in exacerbating the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events across Asia. Many countries recorded their hottest year on record in 2023, with a combination of droughts, heat waves, floods, and storms affecting societies and economies. The consequences of these disasters were profound, impacting not only human lives but also the environment in which we live.
In specific regions such as Japan, Kazakhstan, India, and Southeast Asia, record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events were reported. Severe heat waves in India led to fatalities due to heatstroke, while parts of Central Asia and South Asia experienced below-normal precipitation levels, resulting in drought conditions. Floods and storms in countries like India, Pakistan, and Nepal caused numerous deaths, with catastrophic flooding affecting rural areas in the Russian Federation.
Furthermore, the High-Mountain Asia region faced challenges related to glacier retreat and mass loss due to global warming. Glaciers in the Tibetan Plateau and surrounding areas have been rapidly retreating over the last few decades, with record-breaking temperatures exacerbating the situation. Additionally, warming of the upper-ocean in specific areas such as the north-western Arabian Sea and the Philippine Sea was reported to be significantly higher than the global average, leading to marine heat waves in the Arctic Ocean and other regions.
The impact of tropical cyclones was also significant in 2023, with several named storms forming over the western north Pacific Ocean and South China Sea. While the number of cyclones was below average, countries like China, Japan, the Philippines, and the Republic of Korea faced major impacts and record-breaking rainfall. In the north Indian Ocean basin, the extremely severe cyclonic storm Mocha caused widespread destruction and loss of lives in Myanmar in May 2023.