Asia-Pacific region has a limited timeframe to enhance its resilience and safeguard its hard-earned development achievements from the socioeconomic consequences of climate change, said the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP),
In the latest report, ESCAP said that the region must act decisively to address climate change-induced disasters and safeguard its socioeconomic progress.
CLIMATE-RELATED DISASTERS IN ASIA-PACIFIC
The Asia-Pacific region is increasingly threatened by climate change-induced disasters, resulting in substantial losses. In 2022, the region experienced over 140 disasters that led to more than 7,500 deaths, impacted over 64 million people, and incurred an estimated $57 billion in economic damages.
Also Read Asia-Pacific Set to Miss SDG Targets
CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION
Failing to act promptly will have dire consequences. The Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2023 projects annual losses nearing $1 trillion or 3 per cent of regional GDP if the temperature rises by 2°C, posing severe challenges for the region. Food and energy systems are being disrupted, economies destabilized and societies undermined. Risks in existing disaster hotspots are forecasted to intensify, and new disaster hotspots will begin to appear. A riskscape of complex, compound and cascading disasters is emerging, the report highlighted.
IMPACT ON VULNERABLE SUBREGIONS
Sub regions like the Pacific small island developing States are particularly vulnerable, facing inequality and devastation in the agriculture and energy sectors, jeopardizing food and energy security.
United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, stresses the urgency of transforming the approach to building resilience as disaster hotspots intensify. Investing in multi-hazard early warning systems, especially in least developed countries, is crucial to reducing fatalities and minimizing losses. Early warning systems can yield a remarkable tenfold return on investment, reducing disaster losses by up to 60 per cent.
ESCAP COMMITTEE ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
The report was launched during the eighth session of the ESCAP Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, which aims to explore pragmatic solution-oriented efforts to strengthen resilience in the region.
By adopting transformative measures and investing in early warning systems, the region can enhance its resilience and protect its people and resources from the impacts of climate change, the report concludes.
PROTECTING PEOPLE AND DEVELOPMENT GAINS
- Multi-hazard early warning systems are one of the most effective ways to reduce mortality from natural hazards and protect people in multi-hazard risk hotspots.
- Multi-hazard early warning systems could reduce disaster losses by up to 60 per cent.
- Increased investments in multi-hazard early warning systems are urgent
- Champion innovation and scientific breakthroughs capable of advancing early warnings
- Invest in nature-based solutions which can deliver up to 40 per cent of needed climate actions
- Align social protection and climate change interventions to help build the resilience of poor and climate-vulnerable households
- Implement comprehensive disaster and Climate Risk Management (CRM) to strengthen synergies between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation
- Invest in the Global Executive Action Plan on Early Warnings for All
Also read If Want Save Nature, Recognise Indigenous Peoples
Immediacy of the Threat
Asia and the Pacific is the most disaster-prone region in the world. Climate change is “supercharging” the frequency and severity of extreme weather.
- Warming Speed: Temperatures in Asia are rising twice as fast as the global average.
- Disaster Impact: In 2022 alone, more than 140 disasters occurred, affecting 64 million people and causing 7,500 deaths.
- Economic Risk: Under a high-emissions scenario, the region could see a 17% drop in GDP by 2070. This could potentially rise to 41% by 2100.
Also read Half of World Not prepared for Disaster
Critical 2030 and 2035 Targets
The window for action is tied to international goals that the region is currently struggling to meet.
- SDG Shortfalls: A 2026 UN report indicates a concerning delay. It suggests that 88% of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be met by 2030 at the current pace. This marks a projected 32-year delay in their achievement.
- Emission Gap: Current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) forecast a 16% growth in emissions by 2030. In contrast, the IPCC recommends a 45% reduction to maintain a 1.5°C pathway.
- Renewable Energy Surge: To align with COP28 goals, the region needs to add about 7,000 GW more renewable capacity. This needs to occur within just six years.
Priorities for Closing the Gap
Experts emphasize that incremental change is no longer sufficient; the region must pivot to systematic transformations.
- Nature-Based Solutions (NbS): Integrating NbS into economic planning is seen as a high-potential area for both adaptation and mitigation.
- Decarbonization: There is an urgent need to phase down coal. Coal currently accounts for 56% of electricity generation in the region.
- Investment Needs: Annual adaptation investment needs are estimated between $102 billion and $431 billion. However, only about $34 billion was mobilized in 2021-2022.
- Sustainable Transport: With transport emissions rising 2% annually, the region requires an estimated $500–600 billion in investment to scale electric vehicle infrastructure
