Climate Change amplified deadly heatwaves across Asia: Report

As temperatures continue to rise globally, and throughout April and continuing into May 2024, Asia witnessed extreme record-breaking heat, a recent report published by World Weather Attribution sheds light on the exacerbation of deadly heatwaves across Asia due to climate change. 

Researchers from Lebanon, Sweden, Malaysia, the Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom joined forces to investigate the impact of human-induced climate change on the frequency and severity of extreme heat events in three distinct Asian regions: 1) West Asia, encompassing Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan; 2) the Philippines in East Asia; and 3) South and Southeast Asia, covering India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Climate change made India’s April heatwave 45 times more likely

The study highlights how climate change has not only made these heatwaves more frequent but also significantly intensified their impact, particularly on highly vulnerable populations like in India. The research detected a pronounced climate change signal in the April 2024 mean temperature of the South Asian region that includes India. According to the study, extreme temperatures are now approximately 45 times more probable and 0.85ºC warmer, aligning with previous studies indicating a 30-fold increase in likelihood and a 1ºC temperature rise due to climate change.

A pattern is emerging

The report emphasizes that the recent heatwaves that have swept across Asia, affecting millions of people, are not merely isolated events but are part of a broader pattern exacerbated by climate change. The occurrence of extreme heat in South Asia during the pre-monsoon season is on the rise and previous investigations by World Weather Attribution have scrutinised two notable instances of extreme heat in the region: the 2022 heatwave in India and Pakistan and the 2023 humid heatwave that affected India, Bangladesh, Lao PDR, and Thailand. Through rigorous analysis of historical climate data and advanced modeling techniques, researchers have been able to attribute the increased frequency and severity of these heatwaves to human-induced climate change.

Impact on health

One of the key findings of the report is the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions. These groups are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses and fatalities, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions and adaptation measures to protect those most at risk.

Furthermore, the report emphasizes the interconnected nature of climate change and its cascading effects on various aspects of human life, including public health, agriculture, and infrastructure. Rising temperatures not only pose direct health risks but also exacerbate challenges such as food insecurity and strain on energy systems, amplifying the overall impact of heatwaves on communities across Asia.

Heat resilience 

In light of these findings, the report calls for concerted efforts to mitigate climate change through ambitious emissions reduction targets and adaptation strategies aimed at building resilience to extreme heat events. Urgent action is needed to protect vulnerable populations, enhance early warning systems, and invest in heat-resilient infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of increasingly frequent and severe heatwaves in Asia and beyond.

As the world grapples with the consequences of climate change, the findings of this report serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for global cooperation and decisive action to address the escalating risks posed by extreme heat events in the region. Failure to act swiftly and decisively will only exacerbate the human and economic toll of heatwaves, highlighting the critical importance of prioritizing climate resilience and adaptation efforts in the face of a warming planet.

Reference

Report : Climate change made the deadly heatwaves that hit millions of highly vulnerable people across Asia more frequent and extreme