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On August 18, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned that sea levels in the Western and South Pacific are rising faster than the global average, threatening low-lying islands while marine ecosystems are being devastated by heat waves.
Flooding after heavy rain in Penrith, Australia
In its State of the Climate for the Western and South Pacific 2022 report, the WMO warned that sea levels in some parts of the region are already rising by about 4 mm per year, higher than the global average. This means that low-lying islands such as Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands will gradually be inundated, agricultural land and habitats will be destroyed, while uninhabited areas will not be able to evacuate to higher ground.
In addition, the report also pointed out that the hot weather at sea covering most of northeastern Australia and southern Papua New Guinea over the past 6 months has seriously affected marine life as well as the livelihoods of local communities.
WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas warned that the return of El Niño, which involves rapid warming of sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific, will have a further impact on the region. This phenomenon could lead to more volatile weather conditions, higher temperatures, ocean heatwaves and coral bleaching in the western and southern Pacific.
According to the WMO report, in 2022, the above-mentioned region experienced 35 natural disasters, including storms and floods that killed more than 700 people and directly affected more than 8 million people. Although the number of natural disasters decreased compared to 2021, the estimated economic losses due to floods and extreme weather increased. Of which, floods in Australia and the Philippines caused damage of up to 8.5 billion USD, nearly 3 times higher than in 2021.
According to VNA
