Climate change in the Asia-Pacific region - statistics & facts

With dozens of islands across Asia and Oceania as well as many low-lying territories bordering the Pacific Ocean extensively, the Asia-Pacific region is one of the world regions most vulnerable to natural disasters and most at risk due to global warming and rising sea levels.

 Emissions: a major catalyst for global warming

The Asia-Pacific region is by far the biggest carbon dioxide emitter worldwide, followed by North America and Europe. As several APAC countries rank among the leading energy consumers globally, it becomes apparent why electricity and heat production is the sector accountable for the biggest volume of carbon dioxide emissions in the region. While carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring greenhouse gas that is essential in trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere, the ongoing increase in industrial CO2 emissions is among the most concerning accelerators of global warming, leading to the melting of ice caps and thereby rising sea levels.

 Effects of climate change on the APAC region

The rising ocean levels pose an existential threat to several low-lying Asian countries and cities. More than fifteen million people were projected to be affected by sea-level rise and flooding in seven major cities in Asia by 2030, with highly populated capitals like Bangkok, Jakarta, and Manila being particularly vulnerable. Apart from geophysical circumstances such as recurring tectonic and seismic activity in the region, climate change is the biggest reason why Asia-Pacific is the most disaster-prone territory in the world. The region is frequently exposed to different types of biological and hydro-meteorological disasters including floods, cyclones, and droughts. The Philippines is one of the countries most vulnerable to a variety of natural disasters.

 Outlook: climate action in a post-pandemic world?

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spread across the world, the sudden reduction in economic activity has led to some positive developments for global climate and the environment. For a short period of time, a decline in global CO2 emissions was reported, while border closures and a stagnant tourism industry allowed otherwise heavily visited ecosystems to thrive without human interference. However, many countries' emission volumes have since gone back to pre-pandemic levels and the dependency on sanitary and single-use items such as face masks and test kits has accelerated plastic waste production worldwide. It remains to be seen how big a focus climate change will be for world decision-makers simultaneously facing the long-term societal and economic impacts of the pandemic.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Sector with the highest CO2 emissions: Electricity and heat production

Asian city with the highest annual average air pollution: Lahore

Leading emotion felt regarding climate change in APAC: Concern

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Emissions

CO2 emissions APAC 2022, by country

Emissions

CO2 emissions ASEAN 1960-2021, by country

Renewable energy consumption in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in exajoules)

Energy & Environment

Renewable energy consumption APAC 2022, by country

Recommended statistics

Overview

Basic Statistic Global land and ocean temperature anomalies 1880-2023
Global land and ocean temperature anomalies 1880-2023
Annual anomalies in global land and ocean surface temperature from 1880 to 2023, based on temperature departure (in degrees Celsius)
Basic Statistic Global land temperature anomalies 1880-2023
Global land temperature anomalies 1880-2023
Annual anomalies in global land surface temperature from 1880 to 2023, based on temperature departure (in degrees Celsius)
Basic Statistic Global ocean temperature anomalies 1880-2023
Global ocean temperature anomalies 1880-2023
Annual anomalies in global ocean surface temperature from 1880 to 2023, based on temperature departure (in degrees Celsius)
Premium Statistic Global cumulative CO2 emissions 1750-2022, by region
Global cumulative CO2 emissions 1750-2022, by region
Cumulative carbon dioxide emissions worldwide since 1750 in selected years from 1900 to 2022, by region (in billion metric tons)
Basic Statistic Global carbon dioxide emissions from energy 1965-2022, by region
Global carbon dioxide emissions from energy 1965-2022, by region
Carbon dioxide emissions from energy worldwide from 1965 to 2022, by region (in million metric tons of carbon dioxide)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions

Premium Statistic CO2 emissions APAC 2013-2022
CO2 emissions APAC 2013-2022
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the Asia-Pacific region from 2013 to 2022 (in billion metric tons)
Premium Statistic CO2 emissions from fuel combustion APAC 1990-2021, by subregion
CO2 emissions from fuel combustion APAC 1990-2021, by subregion
Carbon dioxide emissions from fuel combustion in the Asia-Pacific region from 1990 to 2021, by subregion (in million metric tons of CO2)
Premium Statistic CO2 emissions APAC 2022, by country
CO2 emissions APAC 2022, by country
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in million metric tons)
Premium Statistic Carbon dioxide emissions APAC 2019, by sector
Carbon dioxide emissions APAC 2019, by sector
Volume of carbon dioxide emissions in the Asia-Pacific region in 2019, by sector (in million metric tons)
Premium Statistic CO2 emissions ASEAN 1960-2021, by country
CO2 emissions ASEAN 1960-2021, by country
Territorial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in Southeast Asia from 1960 to 2021, by country (in million metric tons of CO2)

Renewable energy consumption

Premium Statistic Renewable energy consumption APAC 2013-2022
Renewable energy consumption APAC 2013-2022
Renewable energy consumption in the Asia-Pacific region from 2013 to 2022 (in exajoules)
Premium Statistic Renewable energy consumption APAC 2022, by country
Renewable energy consumption APAC 2022, by country
Renewable energy consumption in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in exajoules)
Premium Statistic Hydroelectricity consumption APAC 2022, by country
Hydroelectricity consumption APAC 2022, by country
Hydroelectricity consumption in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory (in exajoules)

Renewable energy capacity

Premium Statistic Total hydropower capacity Asia 2013-2022
Total hydropower capacity Asia 2013-2022
Total hydropower capacity in Asia from 2013 to 2022 (in megawatts)
Premium Statistic Solar energy capacity Asia 2013-2022
Solar energy capacity Asia 2013-2022
Total solar energy capacity in Asia from 2013 to 2022 (in megawatts)
Premium Statistic Solar PV energy capacity Asia 2013-2022
Solar PV energy capacity Asia 2013-2022
Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy capacity in Asia from 2013 to 2022 (in megawatts)
Premium Statistic Wind energy capacity Asia 2013-2022
Wind energy capacity Asia 2013-2022
Total wind energy capacity in Asia from 2013 to 2022 (in megawatts)

Natural disasters and sea level rise

Premium Statistic Number of disasters APAC 2000-2020, by type
Number of disasters APAC 2000-2020, by type
Number of biological and hydro-meteorological disasters in the Asia-Pacific region between 2000 and 2020, by type
Premium Statistic Population size affected by disasters APAC 2000-2020, by type
Population size affected by disasters APAC 2000-2020, by type
Number of people affected by biological and hydro-meteorological disasters in the Asia-Pacific region between 2000 and 2020, by disaster type (in millions)
Premium Statistic Number of deaths from natural disasters APAC 1970-2020, by type
Number of deaths from natural disasters APAC 1970-2020, by type
Number of fatalities from floods, storms, earthquakes, and droughts in the Asia-Pacific region between 1970 and 2020, by disaster type (in 1,000s)
Premium Statistic Annual average losses from climate hazards APAC 2020, by country
Annual average losses from climate hazards APAC 2020, by country
Annual average economic damage due to climate-related hazards in the Asia-Pacific region in 2020, by country (in billion U.S. dollars)
Premium Statistic Major city areas affected by sea level rise Asia 2030, by city
Major city areas affected by sea level rise Asia 2030, by city
Projected size of areas affected by the impact of sea level rise and flooding in seven major cities in Asia in 2030, by city (in square kilometers)
Premium Statistic Major city population affected by sea level rise Asia 2030, by city
Major city population affected by sea level rise Asia 2030, by city
Projected population size affected by the impact of sea level rise and flooding in seven major cities in Asia in 2030, by city (in millions)

Public perspective

Premium Statistic Share of consumers believing in climate change APAC 2020-2022
Share of consumers believing in climate change APAC 2020-2022
Share of consumers who believed in climate change in the Asia-Pacific region in 2020 and 2022
Premium Statistic Share of consumers worried about climate change APAC 2022, by country
Share of consumers worried about climate change APAC 2022, by country
Share of consumers worried about climate change in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, by country or territory
Premium Statistic Emotions felt regarding climate change APAC 2022
Emotions felt regarding climate change APAC 2022
Leading emotions felt regarding climate change in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022
Premium Statistic Public perception of climate change as a threat ASEAN 2021
Public perception of climate change as a threat ASEAN 2021
Share of people viewing climate change as an immediate threat to the well-being of their country in Southeast Asia in 2021
Premium Statistic Public perception of climate change as a threat ASEAN 2021, by country
Public perception of climate change as a threat ASEAN 2021, by country
Share of people viewing climate change as an immediate threat to the well-being of their country in Southeast Asia in 2021, by country

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Key figures

The most important key figures provide you with a compact summary of the topic of "Climate change in the Asia-Pacific region" and take you straight to the corresponding statistics.

CO2 emissions in the APAC region
19.98bn MtCO2
Detailed statistics
CO2 emissions APAC 2013-2022
CO₂ emissions in China
11.4bn MtCO₂
Detailed statistics
Carbon dioxide emissions in China 1960-2022
Annual deaths due to air pollution in Japan
42.6k
Detailed statistics
Deaths from air pollution Japan 2010-2019

Most frequent disaster type in APAC
Floods
Detailed statistics
Number of disasters APAC 2000-2020, by type
People affected by floods in APAC
1.6bn
Detailed statistics
Population size affected by disasters APAC 2000-2020, by type
Damage caused by floods in Japan
649.3bn JPY
Detailed statistics
Amount of damage caused by flood Japan 2010-2019