Why in the News?
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has released its “State of the Climate in Asia, 2024” report.
About the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO):
- Overview: It is a specialised agency of the United Nations that deals with meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.
- Historical Origin: It was established in 1950, evolving from the International Meteorological Organisation (IMO), which was founded in 1873.
- Headquarters Location: The headquarters of WMO is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
- Global Coordination Role: WMO plays a key role in coordinating international efforts for climate data collection, forecasting, disaster preparedness, and climate change assessment.
- Members: It has a membership of 193 members (187 member states + 6 Territories), including India.
- Flagship Reports: WMO publishes annual climate reports such as the “State of the Climate” to highlight key trends and extreme weather impacts.
Key Highlights of the State of the Climate in Asia – 2024 Report:
- Record Warmth: 2024 was the warmest year on record in Asia, with heatwaves, extreme rainfalls, cyclones, and droughts devastating the region.
- Global Temperature Spike: The global mean temperature reached its highest level since 1850, surpassing the 2023 record of 1.45°C.
- Glacier Loss: 23 out of 24 monitored glaciers in the Himalayas and Tian Shan suffered mass loss, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
- Marine Heatwaves: Marine heatwaves of unprecedented extent and intensity affected Asian oceans, particularly around India, Japan, and China.
- Major Cyclones: Cyclone Remal struck Bangladesh and India with 111 km/h winds and 2.5-metre-high storm surges; Asna and Fengal also caused major damage in Oman, Sri Lanka, and India.
- Flash Floods and Landslides: Flash floods and landslides in Kerala, Nepal, and Sri Lanka resulted in hundreds of deaths and mass displacement.
- Extreme Heatwaves: Heatwaves broke records across East and South Asia, including Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, and India. Myanmar set a new national record at 48.2°C.
- Severe Drought in China: Drought in China affected 4.8 million people, damaged over 335,000 hectares of crops, and caused losses of CNY 2.89 billion.
| [UPSC 2018] Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” is an initiative launched by
Options: (a) The Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change (b) The UNEP Secretariat (c) The UNFCCC Secretariat* (d) The World Meteorological Organization |
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