Explainer: The Susceptibility of Asia-Pacific to Climate Change Effects
**Explainer: Asia-Pacific's Vulnerability to Climate Change** This article delves into the unique challenges that the Asia-Pacific region faces due to climate change. It explores the specific vulnerabilities of various countries within the area, examining factors such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the impacts on biodiversity and agriculture. Through a comprehensive analysis, the piece highlights the social and economic implications of these changes and emphasizes the urgent need for effective strategies and collaborative efforts to mitigate the risks associated with climate change in this diverse and densely populated region.
TroibNews 
The 2024 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting is set to begin on Friday in Lima, Peru. Leaders from APEC’s 21 current member economies, which include the United States and China as well as significant Southeast Asian nations such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, will convene to address the region's developmental challenges. Among these discussions will be strategies for responding to and adapting to the escalating impacts of climate change.
A report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2024 describes climate change as posing a "profound existential threat" to Asia and the Pacific.
Globally, climate change is causing extreme weather events—such as heatwaves, droughts, intense rainfall, and wildfires—to become more frequent and severe. The Asia-Pacific region is particularly vulnerable to these phenomena.
According to UNDP data, the Asia-Pacific experienced an average of six natural disasters annually over the past 30 years, which is roughly double that of developing nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, and three times more than in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2022, extreme weather events in the region resulted in over 7,500 fatalities, affecting more than 64 million individuals, with economic losses estimated at $57 billion. Countries with higher poverty levels are particularly prone to these disasters.
A 2023 report by the World Meteorological Organization, the UN's weather agency, indicates that Asia was the most disaster-affected region globally last year, as the impacts of extreme weather and climate threats escalated amid rising global temperatures. The report highlights that over 9 million people in Asia were impacted by floods and storms, leading to more than 2,000 deaths, while the trend of increasingly severe heatwaves persisted.
The Center for Global Development, a Washington, D.C. and London-based nonprofit think tank, identifies the Asia-Pacific as a critical area for climate-related displacement. According to UNDP data, disasters resulted in 32.6 million internal displacements worldwide in 2022—41 percent above the average from the previous decade—with weather-related hazards being the primary cause. Notably, the Asia-Pacific accounted for 70 percent of these displacements.
The World Bank’s Groundswell report projects that by 2050, South Asia alone could see up to 40 million climate migrants. Although the Asia-Pacific faces significant challenges from climate change, it is also leading in the development of climate solutions.
Public concern regarding climate change in the region is high, with strong support for proactive climate actions. The upcoming APEC meeting is anticipated to provide a key platform for discussing further measures to mitigate and adapt to the effects of global warming.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
A report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2024 describes climate change as posing a "profound existential threat" to Asia and the Pacific.
Globally, climate change is causing extreme weather events—such as heatwaves, droughts, intense rainfall, and wildfires—to become more frequent and severe. The Asia-Pacific region is particularly vulnerable to these phenomena.
According to UNDP data, the Asia-Pacific experienced an average of six natural disasters annually over the past 30 years, which is roughly double that of developing nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, and three times more than in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2022, extreme weather events in the region resulted in over 7,500 fatalities, affecting more than 64 million individuals, with economic losses estimated at $57 billion. Countries with higher poverty levels are particularly prone to these disasters.
A 2023 report by the World Meteorological Organization, the UN's weather agency, indicates that Asia was the most disaster-affected region globally last year, as the impacts of extreme weather and climate threats escalated amid rising global temperatures. The report highlights that over 9 million people in Asia were impacted by floods and storms, leading to more than 2,000 deaths, while the trend of increasingly severe heatwaves persisted.
The Center for Global Development, a Washington, D.C. and London-based nonprofit think tank, identifies the Asia-Pacific as a critical area for climate-related displacement. According to UNDP data, disasters resulted in 32.6 million internal displacements worldwide in 2022—41 percent above the average from the previous decade—with weather-related hazards being the primary cause. Notably, the Asia-Pacific accounted for 70 percent of these displacements.
The World Bank’s Groundswell report projects that by 2050, South Asia alone could see up to 40 million climate migrants. Although the Asia-Pacific faces significant challenges from climate change, it is also leading in the development of climate solutions.
Public concern regarding climate change in the region is high, with strong support for proactive climate actions. The upcoming APEC meeting is anticipated to provide a key platform for discussing further measures to mitigate and adapt to the effects of global warming.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
