Asia is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, while extreme heat, droughts, floods, and rapid glacier melt are becoming the new climate norm. This conclusion was presented by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in its new report State of the Climate in Asia 2025.
According to experts, 2025 ranked among the hottest years ever recorded in Asia. Particularly severe consequences included prolonged heat waves, destructive heavy rainfall, droughts, and accelerated glacier melting in high-mountain regions, including the Tian Shan and Pamir Mountains.
The report notes that all 23 monitored glaciers in High Mountain Asia continued to lose mass due to abnormally high temperatures and a lack of winter precipitation.
This poses a long-term threat to water security for millions of people, as glaciers serve as the main source feeding Central Asia’s rivers. It also increases the risk of glacial lake outburst floods and other hazardous natural events.
The state of the seas has reached another alarming record. Ocean temperatures around Asia reached the highest levels ever recorded, while marine heat waves covered more than 10 million square kilometers during the summer — an area larger than China or the United States.
Scientists warn that this threatens marine ecosystems, fisheries, and coastal communities.
The WMO also reported record-breaking temperatures in several Asian countries. Japan, China, and South Korea experienced their hottest summers on record.
At the same time, large-scale flooding caused by monsoon rains and tropical cyclones affected various parts of the continent, while droughts and dust storms intensified in the Middle East.
Experts stress that climate change is already having a serious impact on the region’s economy, agriculture, public health, and water resources. In their view, Asian countries must accelerate the development of early warning systems for hazardous natural events and strengthen adaptation measures to cope with changing climate conditions.
