#Extremeweather

Asia is experiencing a rapid acceleration in climate change, warming at twice the rate of the global average, according to a new report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This alarming trend, highlighted in the WMO’s latest assessment released in June 2025, points to sweeping and devastating impacts for millions across the continent—including Thailand—underscoring urgent calls for adaptation and resilience measures.

For Thai readers, this news is particularly significant given the country’s vulnerability to heat waves, shifting rainfall patterns, and sea-level rise. Thailand, with its extensive agricultural sector and dense urban populations near coasts and rivers, stands at the frontline of Asia’s climate crisis.

A recent assessment from the World Meteorological Organization shows Asia is warming at twice the global rate. The findings underscore urgent adaptation needs for millions, including in Thailand, where heat waves, shifting rainfall, and rising seas threaten livelihoods.

For Thailand, the implications are personal. The country’s agriculture, coastal communities, and tourism-dependent regions are especially vulnerable to climate shocks. WMO notes that Asia’s rapid warming is driven mainly by its vast landmass, which heats up faster than the oceans and intensifies extreme weather. These changes ripple through farming, fisheries, and tourism—key pillars of Thailand’s economy.

Asia, already home to more than half the world’s population and many of its largest cities, is now warming at twice the global average, according to a landmark 2024 report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released this June (UN News). The findings mark a stark scientific confirmation that the world’s most populous continent, and a region at the heart of the global economy, faces a climate crisis of unprecedented speed and intensity. Driven by its extensive landmass and interconnected air-sea interactions, Asia now faces devastating extremes in heat, rainfall, floods, droughts, and rising sea levels, all of which are reshaping livelihoods and posing mounting risks across every country—from India’s monsoon-lashed hills to China’s parched fields and the low-lying coasts of Thailand.

Asia is warming at twice the global rate, a January 2024 assessment by the World Meteorological Organization confirms. The findings show the continent’s heat, rainfall, floods, and sea levels accelerating much faster than the world average, driven by its vast landmass and intertwining air-sea systems. The effects are felt across countries from India to China and Thailand, reshaping livelihoods and infrastructure alike.

For Thai readers, the implications are immediate. Bangkok’s heat waves are intensifying, the Mekong Delta’s flood patterns are shifting, and coastal communities are coping with stronger erosion. This isn’t merely a regional concern; it is a local crisis that affects health, agriculture, and the economy.

As Thailand grapples with one of its hottest years on record, new research and expert guidance underscore the life-threatening dangers of exercising or playing sports in extreme heat—a warning that comes as the country continues to experience lingering heatwaves and high humidity. Health professionals are urging community members, particularly athletes, students, and outdoor workers, to take heightened precautions after scientists warn that the body’s ability to safely cool itself becomes severely compromised in such conditions (ABC News).

Thailand is experiencing record heat and high humidity, raising the risk of dangerous heat illness for anyone outdoors. Health professionals warn that exercising, sports, and outdoor work during extreme heat can overwhelm the body’s cooling system, especially in sticky humidity. Local officials stress heightened precautions as heatwaves persist across many regions.

The issue hits Thai communities hard. In April, temperatures in parts of the country climbed into the mid-40s Celsius, one of the region’s hottest episodes in years. Public health advisories from the Thai Meteorological Department urge residents to limit strenuous outdoor activity during peak heat and to seek shade and hydration. These warnings align with broader patterns of rising heat in Southeast Asia, shaping everyday life in Bangkok, the North, and the Northeast.