WMO’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 Report:
India’s eastern and western coastal regions are witnessing faster sea level rise than the global average, according to WMO’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report, posing an increasing threat to livelihoods and infrastructure.
Key Trends in India:
- Arabian Sea rising at 3.9 ± 0.4 mm/year and Bay of Bengal at 4.0 ± 0.4 mm/year, both surpassing global average of 3.4 mm/year, threatening coastal zones.
- Low-lying regions within 50 km of India’s coast face increasing submergence risk, endangering livelihoods and urban infrastructure.
- 23 of 24 glaciers in the Central Himalayas are losing mass, accelerating flood risk from glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
- Over 450 deaths reported in 2024 due to prolonged and extreme heatwaves affecting multiple Indian states.
- Lightning incidents claimed 1300 lives in 2024 and a single deadly event killed 72 people across five Indian states on July 10.
- Asia is heating at twice the global rate, amplifying regional climate impacts like droughts, floods, and storms.
- 2024 marked the second warmest year on record in Asia, with widespread, prolonged heatwaves across several countries.
- Increased frequency of landslides and floods, e.g., Kerala’s Wayanad landslide (350+ deaths after 500 mm rainfall in 48 hours).
- Glaciers in Himalayas and Tian Shan are melting rapidly, increasing GLOF events and downstream flooding risk.
