The UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2025:
The UN ESCAP Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2025 warns that Asian megacities—Delhi, Karachi, Dhaka, Manila, Shanghai, Seoul—could face 2–7°C extra heat due to the urban heat island effect, pushing temperatures far beyond global warming averages.
Key Findings in Report:
- Even if global warming stabilises at 1.5–2°C, cities may heat by +7°C due to dense concrete, limited green cover, and high waste heat from vehicles and ACs.
- Megacities like Delhi, Karachi, Dhaka are projected to experience high localised heat stress far beyond rural surroundings.
- India, Pakistan, Bangladesh: 300+ days with heat index >35°C; over 200 days above 41°C in several regions.
- Heat index includes humidity, making it a better indicator of felt temperature.
- 2024 was the hottest year on record, with Bangladesh’s April–May heatwave affecting 33 million people.
- India’s long heatwave in 2024 caused ~700 deaths, the second deadliest event in the region.
- Over 40% of South Asia’s population will face heat index >35°C and 41°C in both medium- and long-term scenarios.\
- Exposure will worsen regardless of climate policy due to continued urbanisation.
- High heat intensifies wildfires, droughts, PM10/5 load, and releases VOCs.
- Heat and pollution amplify cardiovascular and respiratory risks in a dangerous feedback loop.
- Heat-related working-hour losses in Asia projected to rise from 75 million to 8.1 million full-time job equivalents by 2030.
- Annual climate-related economic loss may rise to billion under high-emissions scenarios.
