On The Shit Show yesterday I stated that I expect to die from extreme heat (my husband was a bit surprised by that😊). I’ve known this for a few years and initially, it was obviously a horrific idea to consider, but as I’ve tracked the increasing heat extremes from my home in Asia, it is very clear this is the path we’re on.
Of course, there are a couple of things that could change this potential future. First, we act at the scale required OR another major event – like a volcano eruption big enough to cool the planet – happens. The second is more likely than the first from all I’m seeing.
This week, The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) released the report Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2025: Rising heat, rising risk and the big take-away is nearly 90 per cent of South Asia’s population will be at risk of extreme heat and almost one-quarter at risk of severe flooding by 2030. Yes 2030, not 2050, not 2100 – that’s four years away.
Asian cities expected to be substantially hotter in the years ahead – with estimates of 2°C-7°C on top of global warming – include Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Delhi, Karachi, Dhaka, Manila, Jakarta and Phnom Penh. I was surprised Singapore wasn’t on this list, especially as I’ve shared this news before – Singapore had 122 more dangerous heat days in 2024 due to climate change | The Straits Times. It’s usually only four days, so a massive jump.
In this article, specifically focusing on Cambodia’s Phnom Penh, it says: Cambodia is also expected to endure more than 250 days per year above a 35°C heat index and up to 138 days above 41°C by the end of the century, placing large parts of the country in “dangerous” or “extreme” heat categories.
For those of us living in this region, we already know what extreme heat feels like, and this report states it’s expected to become a chronic, near year-round hazard across South and South-West Asia, parts of Southeast Asia and Australia.
Extreme heat doesn’t just impact humans, it impacts all living things, including our food, which means food insecurity (and costs) will only rise, famine will increase and the number of people migrating will be far larger and it will happen much faster than most people expect. Unless we get our heads around this and prepare, that migration will mean more violence, societal breakdown and war.
Not pleasant? I know. But this is where we are, and even if we want to pretend otherwise, we are not doing ourselves any favours when we do. By ignoring it, we put ourselves, our families and communities at higher risk, so please, it’s time for all of us to get to work, in any way we can, to help move our world in the right direction. None of us can sit this out. We all need to be involved now.
All is not lost – yet – but boy, are we leaving it to the last minute.
More reading
- 90 per cent of South Asia’s population to face extreme heat risk by 2030, says World Bank | The Star
- This is an important story. Extreme heat doesn’t just kill; it damages our organs too. Kidney dialysis units needs to expand rapidly – How extreme heat is driving kidney failure in migrant workers | Grist.
- An important series of events has happened in Australia in the last week. Intense storms have caused major damage, leaving thousands without electricity. While waiting for the electricity to be repaired, extreme heat is on the way. While fire danger is always a risk for Australia, those without power face the additional risk from heat. This is how threats come together and create bigger dangers – Australia’s east to get extreme weather with heat, winds and catastrophic fire danger – ABC News.
- Extreme Heat Now Asia’s Fastest Growing Climate Disaster.
- Climate Risk Alert: UN Warns India’s Agriculture Faces Severe Heat Stress in Asia-Pacific.
- UN warns of rising heat risks in Asia and the Pacific | ESCAP
Extreme heat to extreme flooding
The other side of the risk assessment is extreme flooding, which is expected to impact a quarter of the population in Asia. In the last few weeks, Asia has experienced catastrophic flooding, with a one-in-300-year event decimating the south of Thailand and the north of Malaysia. It’s now moving down to Singapore and Indonesia, and in the latter, catastrophic flooding has already been happening, killing hundreds and displacing thousands.
Check out the destruction in this video!
According to this article – Unusual alignment of two climate forces behind record-breaking rain, floods in Southeast Asia – CNA – this extreme event is the outcome of a convergence of weather systems and the amplifying effects of climate change. The two major climate systems are La Niña and a negative Indian Ocean Dipole (which is characterised by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures) aligning, which is unusual, and it’s supercharging rainfall across the region.
Hundreds are dead and millions have been displaced. This is an enormous and catastrophic event which is happening right now. The long-term implications will be huge too.
But there are other extreme weather events going on in Asia at the same time. In Sri Lanka, more than 120 people are reported to have died so far, following floods and landslides from Cyclone Ditwah, which is now moving towards the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, south Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry.
Moving across to the other side of Asia, Vietnam is facing Typhoon Koto, after experiencing three extreme flooding events over the last three weeks. The good news is Koto is losing strength and it’s changed direction, but if it does hit central Vietnam – which is already waterlogged – it will have a disastrous impact on a region already decimated.
But let’s go back to Malaysia for one more crazy event. The Straits of Malacca saw a cyclone develop for the first time ever recorded! Now downgraded to a tropical storm, Senyar will hit regions already flooded and if the winds remain strong, it will also tear apart infrastructure not built for such conditions. We wait for the news of this event – Storm Senyar set to hit 10 locations | The Star.
However, there’s more. Forecasters are predicting storms Koto and Senyar are going to combine and bring heavy flooding to Thailand – the country we started this section discussing – Experts warn of heavy rain in Thailand as storms Koto and Senyar combine in the South China Sea.
This is really crazy stuff and the size of these events is absolutely enormous. What amazes me is how many people have no idea this is even happening! So yeah, things are already getting serious out in these parts (I’m so lucky being in Singapore), but I’m horrified by what is going on.
Regardless, I will continue to raise the alarm and awareness, even though many do not want to know, because the people who are facing the worst of this deserve to be fought for. I love Asia, it is a magnificent part of the world and what is happening right now is an enormous disaster for the region, but you will feel it too. The cost of food will increase, and food shortages are a certainty, with essentials like rice impacted, tea and coffee too.
This video will give you a sense of the floods.
More news on these events
- Storm Koto slows and weakens off central Vietnam as new depression approaches – VnExpress International
- ‘Rare’ cyclone in Indonesia among wild weather in South-East Asia that has killed hundreds – ABC News
- Unusual tropical depression heads toward Typhoon Koto in the East Sea
- Tropical storm Senyar moves into Strait of Malacca | The Straits Times
- Death toll climbs, thousands forced to leave homes as severe floods hit parts of Southeast Asia.
- A ‘once-in-300-years’ rain leaves Thai city flooded | CNN
Strength to all in the multiple storms’ paths, and to those staring down the heat, may your grid hold strong.
Visual storytelling
One day, it might be normal again…
And then there’s this situation!
Violence against women should be completely unacceptable. It’s getting worse!! Thank you Voice for Global peace.
With Black Friday sales expected to result in 80% going to landfill, a reminder that our massive consumption is a HUGE issue we need to overcome.
This IS the problem! Our consumption is driving economic growth, but it’s also driving these extreme events and people are dying.
My content and my friends
We talked money on The Shit Show this week, because it’s always part of the conversation, and this week we really wanted to focus on it. Understanding how the global economy works is critical if you want to get a handle on the predicament we’re in, as well as understanding the risks you face personally.
I also wanted to share the photo my husband Steve took in New Delhi this week. A CLASSIC example of economy before ecology. When you destroy wetlands, you increase impacts of floods. Look, none of this is easy. Times are tough and governments around the world are continuing to prioritize jobs over the environment. Here’s the problem with that thinking. We’re just delaying even bigger job losses in the end, when everything falls apart. We must put ecology at the centre of how we design our world, or – as we are seeing in Iran, and many other places – or we will no longer have jobs OR a habitable planet.
Dig into the news
As always, there’s plenty more to read, listen to or watch, so do click through to the reads at the image below, and a reminder, this platform has articles going back weeks, so have a scan and read/watch/listen to whatever jumps out at you.
Let me know what caught your attention? Or share with me what has your attention now? There’s a lot going on, which means none of us can cover everything. Besides, it’s always great to get feedback so I know I’m delivering something of value.
Cheers
Andrea
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