ASIATODAY.ID, BANGKOK — The Asia-Pacific region is entering a dangerous new phase of climate extremes, and the message from the 5th ESCAP Disaster Resilience Week could not be more urgent: early warning systems are now humanity’s frontline defense against rapidly intensifying disasters.
Delegates from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) across Asia and the Pacific gathered to push for stronger regional cooperation and advanced climate-risk solutions.
Hosted by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the biennial event brought together governments, UN agencies, scientific experts, civil-society organizations, and regional partners to confront the accelerating threats posed by natural hazards and climate change.
Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Takes Center Stage
The flagship event of the week was the Ninth Session of ESCAP’s Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction, held from 26 to 28 November 2025. Delegates emphasized the importance of fast-tracking regional action as extreme weather events escalate — from deadly heatwaves to increasingly volatile ocean patterns.
ESCAP unveiled two major initiatives:
Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2025: Rising Heat, Rising Risk
Risk and Resilience Portal 3.0 (RRP 3.0), a next-generation platform designed to support climate-risk analytics and decision-making
ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana warned that the region is already the global frontline of climate impacts. Strengthening early warning systems and investing in resilience, she said, are essential for safeguarding Asia-Pacific’s shared future.
Extreme Heat Emerges as the Region’s Deadliest Climate Threat
WMO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Ben Churchill delivered a stark assessment: extreme heat is becoming the most dangerous climate-driven hazard in Asia-Pacific. Yet only 54% of national meteorological services currently issue heat warnings, leaving millions without critical life-saving information.
According to the Asia-Pacific Disaster Report:
Expanding heat-health warning systems in 57 countries
Could save up to 100,000 lives every year
Churchill also highlighted the newly launched Extreme Heat Risk Governance Framework and Toolkit, presented at COP30 and developed jointly by WMO, UNDRR, and the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN).
AI-Driven Forecasting and New Technologies Transform Early Warning Systems
A high-level session on Science, Technology and Innovation for Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) showcased the future of climate resilience:
MAZU AI, an advanced early warning tool from the China Meteorological Administration
Cell Broadcasting emergency alerts in Thailand
Cutting-edge geospatial analytics and impact-based forecasting models
Churchill emphasized that modern science and technology — supported by WMO’s global network of 193 Members — now make it possible to forecast not only hazards, but their human and economic impacts with far greater precision.
Rising Seas and Warming Oceans Put Coastal Asia at Extreme Risk
The discussions also spotlighted worsening ocean-related hazards, including sea-level rise, coastal flooding, increasing storm surges, and marine heatwaves. These trends pose severe risks to low-lying coastal areas and small island nations across Asia and the Pacific.
ESCAP showcased key regional initiatives funded by the Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness, including newly confirmed contributions from the Government of Switzerland.
Countries Pledge Stronger Cooperation and Climate Resilience
Delegates concluded the week with a renewed commitment to scale up early warning architecture across Asia-Pacific. Priority actions include:
Strengthening regional climate and ocean monitoring networks
Investing in sustainable meteorological and hydrological infrastructure
Integrating ocean-climate data into forecasting systems
Expanding community-level alert mechanisms
Mobilizing financial resources for long-term resilience
The overarching message: without rapid and coordinated investments in early warning systems, the Asia-Pacific region will face catastrophic and avoidable losses in the years ahead. (AT Network)
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