Express View on Asia Climate Report: Why a hotter world is more dangerous for India

The number of people impacted by “disaster” events in Asia in 2023 was lower than that in 2022. That’s the only mitigating finding of the World Meteorological Organisation’s State of the Climate Asia report for the last year — the hottest since global temperature records began to be recorded. Asia faced the most disasters in the world as 79 events associated with extreme weather, climate, and water-related hazards in 2023 affected over nine million people in the region, directly killing over 2,000 people. The findings for India are particularly sobering. Heatwaves, floods and landslides took a heavy toll on life in the country. The warnings issued by scientific studies for more than a decade and a half ring true — people living in coastal areas, mountainous regions, even the plains are all vulnerable to climate vagaries. It’s heartening that the manifestos of the two major parties, Congress and BJP, devote sections to sustainability and green economy. However, the ravages caused by heat, rain and floods are yet to become campaign issues.

Like most climate literature, the report drives home the need to keep temperature rise to levels that help avert catastrophes. But it’s also a warning to be prepared for receding glaciers, rising sea-levels and droughts. Most Asian countries do come together in global forums such as the UNFCCC, but time has come to develop mechanisms of cooperation that will enable people — and cities and towns — to be resilient against climate change. Natural phenomenon rarely respects national boundaries. And, large parts of Asia, especially South Asia, have ecological continuities that make the case for joint work on building defences compelling. The Climate Asia report too should hasten such collaboration. “Precipitation was below normal in the Himalayas and in the Hindu Kush mountain ranges in Pakistan and Afghanistan in 2023, while southwest China suffered from a drought, with below-normal precipitation levels in nearly every month of the year,” it points out.

Asia also has energy security-related demands. India and China have made remarkable strides in renewable power, but the two countries have concerns. In 2023, drought constricted China’s energy options and a dry spell in the monsoon season forced India to step up the use of coal after reduced hydroelectricity output threatened power outages. Historical conflict has made energy diplomacy a high-hanging fruit for the two countries. The Subcontinent, too, is not close to a collaboration mechanism akin to the ASEAN. As the climate crisis deepens, countries in the region will need to iron out such complications.