Asia's Leadership and the Looming Threat of Global Warming
Asia is a global leader on decarbonization and climate action, but it must take bolder steps to meet the looming threat of global warming. The region, which accounts for almost half of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, is also one of the most vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Increasing Frequency and Severity of Extreme Weather
Extreme weather has already wreaked havoc in Asia, and is likely to become more frequent and severe as global warming progresses. This year alone, flash floods in Japan swept away cities and towns; deadly mudslides caused by heavy rains have killed hundreds in China's inland province of Henan; and extreme heat has triggered a number of fires in Australia.
These calamities have caused massive economic losses, worsened food insecurity and poverty, and stalled sustainable development. According to a new report released ahead of the U.N.'s COP26 summit, more than 50% of Asian GDP could be lost if we fail to address the threat of climate change.
Rising Temperatures and its Impacts on Asia
Temperatures in Asia are rising two times faster than they were before the industrial era began. This is causing a range of effects including the intensification of storms and flooding, droughts, and sea level rise that can disrupt livelihoods, threaten human health, and lead to land degradation.
Reducing carbon emissions is critical to reducing the risk of these impacts. But the IPCC warns that slow and incremental measures will not be enough. To limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, emissions need to be cut by about 45% from today's levels by 2050 and more than 50% by 2100.
Effective Measures to Mitigate Climate Risks
Protecting coral reefs, restoring mangroves, and mapping areas at risk from flooding are some of the efforts that are helping to mitigate climate risks. However, more work is needed to effectively cost and prioritize adaptation plans and factor rising climate risks into infrastructure decisions.
Adapting to a changing climate can be challenging, but it has significant opportunities. By integrating a robust adaptation framework into national and local planning, governments can increase resilience to climate change while maximizing potential for growth. Countries such as Japan, Singapore, and Thailand have implemented frameworks for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks.
Infrastructure Challenges and Opportunities
A key challenge is that many countries in the region are only just building their infrastructure and urban areas to withstand heightened climate risks. This provides them with a window of opportunity to make the transition to a more resilient society.
Territorial Conflicts and Climate Change
Climate change can also trigger or exacerbate existing territorial conflicts, such as the South China Sea dispute between China and countries in Southeast Asia. This could create an escalating threat to livelihoods and peace.
Most Vulnerable Parts of Asia-Pacific
The most vulnerable parts of the Asia-Pacific region include Frontier Asia (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Nepal) and Emerging Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam). These countries have lower per capita incomes than developed nations but are expected to be the most impacted by climate change because of their low-lying coastlines and high vulnerability to flooding and typhoons.
Urgent Need for Accelerated Climate Policies
While a growing number of Asia-Pacific countries are making commitments to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their resilience to climate change, the pace of these improvements is still far too slow. If we are to avoid catastrophic climate change, we must dramatically accelerate these policies.
