The world experienced its hottest March on record, marking a 10-month streak of unprecedented global temperatures, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
As Asia grapples with the realities of climate change, rising temperatures are having profound impacts across the region, affecting economies, ecosystems, and daily lives.
Each of the last ten months has set a new global temperature record compared to previous years. The period from April 2023 to March 2024 saw global average temperatures soar 1.58 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels recorded between 1850 and 1900, C3S reported.
“Seeing records like this—month in, month out—really shows us that our climate is changing, and changing rapidly,” said Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of C3S.
Impacts Across Asia
In countries like India and Pakistan, early heatwaves are causing disruptions in agriculture and posing health risks to millions. Southeast Asian nations are witnessing an increased frequency of extreme weather events, such as typhoons and heavy rainfall, leading to floods and infrastructure damage.
Marine ecosystems are also under threat. Warm ocean temperatures contribute to coral bleaching events in vital coral reefs across the region, jeopardizing marine biodiversity and the fisheries that support local communities.
Causes and Concerns
The exceptional heat is primarily driven by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. “The main driver of the warming is fossil fuel emissions,” stated Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute.
Other factors include the El Niño weather pattern, which warms surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Although El Niño peaked in December and January and is now weakening, global sea surface temperatures hit a record high in March, and marine air temperatures remained unusually high, C3S noted.
The Road Ahead
Asian nations, many of which are rapidly developing economies, face the dual challenge of sustaining growth while mitigating environmental impacts. Failure to reduce emissions will continue to drive warming, resulting in more intense droughts, heatwaves, and extreme weather events across the continent.
“It’s the long-term trend with exceptional records that has us very concerned,” Burgess emphasized.
As the impacts of climate change become increasingly evident, the role of Asia in global efforts to curb emissions and adapt to shifting climates is more critical than ever. Collective action and sustainable practices are essential to address this pressing issue.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
