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Region II: Asia
Asia is the Earth's largest and most diverse continent, covering 30% of the land area and hosting 60% of the global population, or over 4.75 billion people. It spans various sub-regions like the Middle East, Central Asia, and East Asia, and features a wide range of climates and geographies. The region is the most disaster-prone globally, experiencing frequent extreme events like typhoons and earthquakes. In the past 50 years, Asia has seen 3,612 disasters causing nearly a million deaths and $1.4 trillion in losses, nearly half of the world's total.
Asia's socioeconomic landscape is equally diverse, housing some of the world's fastest-growing economies alongside eight Least Developed Countries. The region faces significant food and energy security challenges, exacerbated by climate change. WMO is committed to enhancing the region's resilience by improving weather and environmental services. Due to the socioeconomic diversity in this region, Members are actively investing in and sharing technology such as meteorological satellite technology, to foster collaboration and mutual benefits across the region.
WMO collaborates with partners like the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as well as the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to develop multi-hazard early warning systems and engage in policymaking through robust scientific and socioeconomic data. This multi-sectoral approach aims to position Asia for sustainable development despite increasing environmental and economic challenges.
WMO Offices in the region
Regional Office for Asia and the South-West Pacific
WMO Inter-Regional Representative Office for the Arab Region (IOAR)
United Nations House 69
Road 1901, Hoora 319
PO Box 26814,
Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain