FAQ: What are the current and projected key risks related to climate change in each sub-region of Asia?
Climate-change-related risks are projected to increase progressively at 1.5°C, 2°C and 3°C of
global warming in many parts of Asia.
Heat stress and water deficit are affecting human health and food security.
Risks due to extreme rainfall and sea level rise are exacerbated in vulnerable Asia.
Climatologically, the summer surface air temperature in South, Southeast and Southwest Asia is high, and
its coastalarea is very humid. In these regions, heat stress is already a medium risk for humans. Large cities
are warmer by more than 2°C compared with the surroundings due to heat island effects, exacerbating heat
stress conditions.
Future warming will cause more frequent temperature extremes and heatwaves especially in densely
populated SouthAsian cities, where working conditions will be exacerbated and daytime outdoor work will
become dangerous.
For
Example :,
incidence of excess heat-related mortality in 51 cities in China is estimated to reach 37,800 deaths per year
over a 20-year period in the mid-21st century (2041–2060) under the RCP8.5 scenario.
Glaciers are decreasing in Central AND Southwest, Southeast and North Asia, but are stable or increased
in some parts of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region .
Between 1998 and 2007, there was an increase in the volume of glacier meltwater on the southern Tibetan
Plateau, and there have been recent increases in the number and size of glacier lakes.
Given that a large portion of Asia's population lives in drought-prone regions, Asia is at a high risk for
malnutrition as a result of water scarcity.
Populations that are susceptible to water-related effects will gradually grow at global warming levels of
1.5°C, 2°C, and 3°C.
Given that a large portion of Asians reside in regions susceptible to drought, Extreme rainfall generates
flooding in rivers that are susceptible. In South and East Asia, there has been an increase in extreme rainfall
events, such as severe downpours of greater than 100 mm per day.
Most of East and Southeast Asia is expected to see more frequent and strong rainfall events in the future,
MAY BE middle of the twenty-first century .
on an Asian shores, sea level rise is expected to be greater than the worldwide mean.
Many Asian megacities that face the ocean are at high risk for storm surge and high waves from tropical
cyclones of greater intensity.
China, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Vietnam have the most exposed coastal populations and are
consequently most susceptible to disaster-related mortality.
Changes in terrestrial biome have been observed that are consistent with warming, such as an upward
move of treeline position in mountains. Climate change, human activity, lightning and quality of forest
governance and management have increased .
KEY RISKS RELATED CLIMATE CHANGE IN ASIA
WILDFIRE
HEATWAVE
HEAT ISLAND
FLOODS
BIODIVERSITY
EXTREME RAINFALL
DUST STORMS
SEA LEVEL RISE
PERMAFROST THAWING
FAQ 2 :What are the current and emerging adaptation options across asia ?
Asia has a wide range of ecosystems, levels of economic
development, cultural diversity, and sensitivity to climatic danger.
A wide variety of coping and adaptation strategies are used by
households, communities, and governments to deal with the effects
of changing climatic conditions. These strategies also have positive
effects on a number of non-climatic issues, such as poverty, conflict,
and livelihood dynamics.
Currently, Asian countries have rich evidence on managing risk, drawing on long histories of dealing with change.
For example,
to deal with erratic rainfall and shifting monsoons, farmers make incremental shifts such as changing
what and when they grow or adjusting their irrigation practices, Communities living in coastal settlements are
using Early warning systems to prepare for cyclones or raising the height of their houses to minimise flood impacts.
These types of strategies, seen across all Asian sub-regions, based on local social and ecological contexts, are
termed autonomous adaptations that occur incrementally and help people manage current impacts ..
Overall, the fundamental challenges that Asia will see exacerbated under climate change are around water and
food insecurity, poverty and inequality, and increased frequency and severity of extreme events. In some places
and for some people, climate change, even at 1.5°C and more so at 2°C, will significantly constrain the functioning
and well-being of human and ecological systems.
Some examples of innovative adaptation actions are China’s ‘Sponge Cities’ which are trying to protect ecosystems
while reducing risk for people, now and in the future. Another example is India’s Heat Action Plans that are using
‘cool roofs’ technologies and awareness-building campaigns to reduce the impacts of extreme heat. Across South
and Southeast Asia, climate-smart agriculture programmes are reducing GHG emissions associated with farming
while helping farmers adapt to changing risks.
Each country is experimenting with infrastructural, nature-based,
technological, institutional and behavioural strategies to adapt to current and future climate change with local
contexts shaping both the possibility of undertaking such actions as well as the effectiveness of these actions to
reduce risk.
10
