The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has recently published a comprehensive report titled “State of Climate in the South-West Pacific, 2022.” This report provides a concise summary of the current climate conditions, as well as the socioeconomic repercussions of extreme weather events that occurred in the region throughout the year.
The report was unveiled during the Third Pacific Ministerial Meeting on Meteorology, which took place in Fiji on August 18, 2023.
The WMO report focused on South-West Pacific, referred to as the focus WMO Region V which includes: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Timor Liste, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Key Findings Of The Report
- In 2022, the South-West Pacific experienced extreme weather events that resulted in economic damages amounting to nearly $8.7 billion, a significant increase from the $5.7 billion recorded in 2021.
- Despite a 39% decrease in the number of reported disasters in the region in 2022 compared to 2021, the economic damage caused by these events was more significant in 2022.
- The region experienced a decrease in the number of natural hazards, with 35 reported compared to 57 in 2021. However, despite this reduction, the overall economic damages exceeded the losses of the previous year by 53 percent.
- Floods have accounted for almost 98% of the total economic losses. The financial impact of flooding in 2022 exceeded four times the average of the past 20 years (2002-2021).
- The report presents loss and damage estimates, revealing that the economic impact of floods reached an alarming $8.5 billion. This staggering figure represents a nearly three-fold increase compared to damages in 2021.
- Although the three-year-long La Nina event had a temporary cooling influence, 2022 remained a warm year for the South-West Pacific.
- In 2022, the average temperature was 0.2°C-0.3°C higher compared to 2011, which coincided with the occurrence of the previous significant La Nina event.
- The year 2022 has been ranked within the top 10 warmest years for the region.
- The region stretching from Melanesia to French Polynesia and New Zealand experienced the most notable increase in temperature.
- The ongoing El Nino is expected to persist throughout the year, exerting a significant influence on the region. This phenomenon is often linked to elevated temperatures, disruptive weather patterns, and an increase in marine heatwaves and coral bleaching events.
- The report attributed the majority of the damages to a sequence of flood events in Australia. In 2022, Australia experienced the most significant economic losses due to flooding, exceeding $8 billion. Following closely behind were Indonesia, with losses exceeding $74 million, and the Philippines, with losses surpassing $11 million.
- During the La Nina conditions, there were notable deviations from normal rainfall patterns in the area. Australia experienced severe flooding, while the equatorial Pacific islands faced unusually dry conditions. Additionally, Kiribati and Tuvalu encountered significant water shortages.
- Nevertheless, the impact of these hazards on individuals has decreased by 44 percent compared to 2021. In 2022, approximately eight million people were directly affected, a significant decrease from the 14.3 million in the previous year.
- Agricultural sector is profoundly impacted by climate-related disasters, making it one of the most crucial areas affected.
- According to the WMO, the countries in the region have recognised this in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). Out of the 20 countries, at least 15 have identified agriculture as their primary sector for climate adaptation in their NDCs, followed by environment and water.
- Globally, sea level rises at an average of 3.4 millimetres per year in response to ocean warming and land ice melt. The rate of sea-level rise in the region exceeded the global average. In certain areas, the sea level increases by approximately 4 mm annually.
- Despite the presence of La Nina conditions, marine heatwaves were observed in several areas of the region. The most notable and long-lasting events took place in northeast Australia and the southern regions of Papua New Guinea, specifically in the Solomon and Coral Seas. These heatwaves persisted for a duration exceeding six months.