‘Climate whiplash’: Asia’s worst extreme weather events of 2025 – Eco-Business

Report on Extreme Weather Events in Asia and Their Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction: Climate Volatility and its Impact on SDG Progress

Recent analysis indicates a significant increase in “climate whiplash,” characterized by rapid shifts between extreme weather conditions. This phenomenon is particularly acute in Asia, which is warming at approximately twice the global average. The resulting intensification of natural hazards poses a direct threat to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The events of 2025 underscore the urgent need for robust implementation of SDG 13 (Climate Action) to mitigate widespread impacts on human well-being, economic stability, and environmental integrity.

Hydro-meteorological Disasters: Flooding and Typhoons

Increased water-related disasters have devastated communities, infrastructure, and livelihoods, directly impeding progress on several key SDGs.

1. Deluge in Hoi An, Vietnam:
   • Record rainfall in October led to severe flooding, causing at least 35 fatalities and forcing mass evacuations.
   • The disaster damaged approximately 16,000 homes and 5,300 hectares of crops, undermining SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).
   • Inundation of a UNESCO World Heritage site highlights threats to cultural assets, relevant to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
2. Super Typhoon Ragasa (Hong Kong, Taiwan, China):
   • As the world’s most powerful storm of the year, Ragasa caused widespread destruction with winds of 260 km/h.
   • Fatalities in Taiwan and significant infrastructure damage in Hong Kong demonstrate setbacks for SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
   • The event’s rapid intensification, linked to warming oceans, serves as a critical data point for SDG 13 (Climate Action) strategies.
3. Cloudburst Catastrophe in South Asia:
   • Intense rainfall events exceeding 100 mm per hour caused catastrophic floods and landslides in India and Pakistan.
   • These events resulted in over 430 deaths and hundreds missing, representing a severe blow to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
   • The destruction of entire villages reverses progress on SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Atmospheric and Geological Hazards

Climate change is exacerbating conditions that lead to destructive wildfires and landslides, threatening both human life and natural ecosystems.

1. Wildfire Outbreaks in South Korea:
   • Unusually dry conditions fueled the deadliest wildfires in decades, resulting in 24 deaths and 27,000 evacuations.
   • The destruction of a 1,300-year-old temple and threats to UNESCO sites compromise targets under SDG 11.4 (Protect cultural and natural heritage).
   • Increased frequency and ferocity of wildfires directly challenge the goals of SDG 15 (Life on Land).
2. Deadly Landslides in Indonesia:
   • Extreme rainfall triggered multiple fatal landslides, including incidents in Central and West Java.
   • A tailings landslide at an industrial park highlighted the intersection of climate risk and industrial safety, impacting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
   • These events underscore the vulnerability of communities and workers, affecting SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Temperature Extremes and Precipitation Anomalies

Unprecedented heatwaves and deviations from historical precipitation patterns are disrupting economies and threatening essential resources like water and food.

1. Heatwaves in Central and South Asia:
   • A March heatwave saw temperatures soar 15°C above normal, an event made significantly more likely by climate change.
   • In India, prolonged temperatures above 46°C posed severe health risks and threatened regional food and water security, impacting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
2. Precipitation Volatility:
   • Snowless Kashmir, India: A lack of snowfall led to a 79% rainfall deficit, crippling the tourism-based economy and threatening water supplies for agriculture. This directly affects SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
   • Harsher Winters in Japan: Following a record-hot summer, an abrupt cold snap brought record snowfall, disrupting transportation and power infrastructure, which relates to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).

Compounded Environmental Crises

The convergence of climate change with pollution is creating complex challenges for public health and environmental management.

1. Microplastic Rain in Jakarta, Indonesia:
   • Research confirmed the presence of microplastic particles in Jakarta’s rainwater, posing long-term health risks and threatening to contaminate waterways and the food chain.
   • This issue highlights the interconnectedness of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
2. Toxic Smog in Delhi, India:
   • Post-festival air quality reached “severe” levels, with PM2.5 concentrations exceeding WHO safe limits by over 56 times.
   • This recurring public health crisis underscores failures in achieving the clean air targets within SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article discusses health impacts from extreme weather and pollution, such as heatstroke from heatwaves in India, health risks from microplastic-laden rain in Jakarta, and the severe health dangers of toxic smog in Delhi.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: Issues of water security are prominent, including the “snowless Kashmir” leading to a 79% rainfall deficit and low river levels, threatening water supply for millions. Additionally, floods in Vietnam and Jakarta contaminate water sources, and microplastic pollution in rainwater raises concerns about water quality.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article extensively covers the impact of climate disasters on cities. Floods inundated Hoi An and Jakarta, a super typhoon hit Hong Kong, and toxic smog choked Delhi. It also highlights damage to infrastructure, homes, and the displacement of urban populations, as well as threats to UNESCO World Heritage sites in Vietnam and South Korea.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: This is the central theme of the article. It describes “climate whiplash” and states that Asia is “warming nearly twice as fast as the global average.” Every disaster mentioned—floods, typhoons, cloudbursts, wildfires, droughts, and heatwaves—is explicitly linked to climate change magnifying their frequency and intensity.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article touches upon the degradation of terrestrial ecosystems. Wildfires in South Korea, fueled by dry conditions, destroyed forests and a 1,300-year-old temple. The lack of snow in the Himalayas threatens mountain ecosystems and the water security they provide. Landslides in Indonesia, exacerbated by extreme rainfall, also represent a form of land degradation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The entire article serves as a case study for the failure to meet this target, detailing the devastating impacts of floods, typhoons, heatwaves, and wildfires on communities across Asia, highlighting their vulnerability.
• Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
  • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. This is directly relevant to the flooding of the “UNESCO-listed town” of Hoi An and the wildfires that threatened UNESCO World Heritage sites in South Korea, including the “historic village of Hahoe” and burned the “1,300-year-old Gounsa Temple.”
  • Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected…caused by disasters. The article provides numerous statistics on deaths, missing persons, and evacuations due to floods, typhoons, cloudbursts, and wildfires, directly relating to this target.
  • Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and…waste management. This is addressed by the sections on Delhi’s “toxic smog,” where the air quality index reached “488 µg/m³ of PM2.5,” and Jakarta’s “plastic rain,” indicating severe air and plastic pollution in urban environments.
• Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
  • Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article’s description of Delhi’s air quality being “more than 56 times the World Health Organization’s safe limit” and the discovery of microplastics in Jakarta’s rainwater directly point to health risks from air and water pollution covered by this target.
• Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
  • Target 6.4: Substantially increase water-use efficiency…and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The situation in Kashmir, with a “79 per cent rainfall deficit” and the “Jhelum River running below zero gauge level,” directly relates to the challenge of water scarcity and the need for sustainable water management.
• Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
  • Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil…including land affected by…drought and floods. The article’s descriptions of widespread floods, landslides, wildfires, and drought conditions (such as the “dry spell” in Kashmir and “record-low rainfall” in South Korea) are all forms of land degradation that this target aims to address.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 11.5 (Reduce disaster impacts):
  • Number of deaths and missing persons from disasters: The article provides specific figures, such as “killed at least 35 people” (Vietnam), “at least 14 people and leaving 33 missing” (Taiwan), “more than 370 people have been killed” (Pakistan), “60 people died and over 200 went missing” (India), and “killing 24 people” (South Korea).
  • Number of people affected by disasters: Mentioned through figures like “forced tens of thousands of locals and tourists to flee” (Vietnam), “forcing 27,000 to evacuate” (South Korea), and “submerged over 1,000 households” (Jakarta).
  • Direct economic loss and damage: Implied through descriptions of “16,000 homes and 5,300 hectares of crops damaged” (Vietnam) and the destruction of heritage sites and businesses.
• For Target 11.6 (Reduce urban environmental impact):
  • Annual mean levels of fine particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5): A direct indicator is provided for Delhi, where the air quality index surged to “488 µg/m³ of PM2.5.”
  • Levels of plastic pollution: A specific metric is given for Jakarta: “15 microplastic particles per square metre per day falling from the sky.”
• For Target 13.1 (Strengthen resilience to climate hazards):
  • Metrics of extreme weather events: The article provides several indicators of the intensity of climate hazards, such as “rainfall exceeding 100 millimetres in an hour” (cloudbursts), typhoon winds of “260 kilometres per hour,” and heatwaves with temperatures “soaring 15°C above normal” and reaching “above 46°C.”
• For Target 6.4 (Address water scarcity):
  • Level of water stress: Indicators are provided for Kashmir, including a “79 per cent rainfall deficit” and the “Jhelum River running below zero gauge level,” which measure the severity of water scarcity.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: eco-business.com