UNITED NATIONS, Jul 27 (APP): : Extreme weather events ranging from large-scale floods — like last August’s deluge in Pakistan — to droughts and other effects of climate change are on the rise in Asia and bound to affect food security and the continent’s ecosystems, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a Geneva-based agency, said.

In a report published on Thursday, WMO said Asia was the world’s most disaster-impacted region, with 81 weather, climate and water-related disasters recorded last year, the majority of which were floods and storms.

Melting ice and glaciers and rising sea levels threaten more socio-economic disruption in future, according to the agency’s latest State of the Climate report for the region.

The mean temperature over Asia for 2022 was the second or third warmest on record and was about 0.72 degrees Celsius (°C) above the 1991–2020 average, which was itself roughly 1.68°C above the WMO 1961–1990 reference period for climate change.

Asia is also the world’s most disaster-prone region, according to the agency’s new report.

In 2022, there were more than 80 disasters on the continent, mainly floods and storms, which killed upwards of 5,000 people and affected 50 million more. Overall economic damage exceeded $36 billion.

WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas noted that last year, many areas in Asia experienced drier-than-normal conditions and drought.

He highlighted the case of China, where prolonged drought conditions affected water availability and the power supply. The estimated economic losses were over $7.6 billion.

“Most glaciers in the High Mountain Asia region suffered from intense mass loss as a result of exceptionally warm and dry conditions in 2022,” Taalas said. “This will have major implications for future food and water security and ecosystems,” he added.

Last year also saw severe flooding in Pakistan. The country received 60 per cent of its normal monsoon rain within just three weeks of the start of the monsoon season.

More than 33 million people were affected, or roughly 14 per cent of the population, and more than $15 billion in losses were recorded.

Asia also shows an overall surface ocean warming trend beginning in 1982. In the northwestern Arabian Sea, the Philippine Sea and the seas east of Japan, the warming rates exceed 0.5°C per decade, roughly three times faster than the global average surface ocean warming rate.

The report was released during a meeting of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific’s (ESCAP) Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction. It is accompanied by an interactive story map, with a special focus on agriculture and food security.

WMO said the expected increase in the frequency and severity of extreme events over much of Asia will impact agriculture, which is central to all climate adaptation planning.

ISLAMABAD, Jul 27 (APP): Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardsri on Wednesday held a telephonic call with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and discussed post-flood recovery in Pakistan, food security for developing countries and Black Sea Grain Initiative.
On his Twitter handle, the foreign minister said that he thanked the UNSG for his leadership and support for Pakistan flood response.
The foreign minister highlighted challenges faced by the developing countries for food security following supply chain disruptions.
“Exchanged views on reviving the stalled Black Sea Grain Initiative through constructive dialogue accommodating concerns of all parties,” he added in a tweet.
Foreign Minister Bilawal also addressed the recurring reprehensible and condemnable acts of desecration of the Holy Quran.
He urged upon collective UN action to formulate comprehensive strategy for tackling Islamophobia.