Although there are records that exist to be beaten – the Olympics, for example – these extremes of monthly temperature are not worthy of the medal. And yet China was not the only Asian country to set a burst of new peaks in 2024.

The continent heats up twice as fast as the world average, according to a report published Monday by the World Meteorological Organization (Wmo). This warming rate – which shows no signs of stopping – leads to devastating consequences for lives and livelihoods in the region, and no country is exempt from the consequences.

“” A rigorous extreme time is already an unacceptable toll“Said the secretary general of the WMO, Celeste Saulo on Monday.

Large land mass, warmer temperatures

The WMO report said that Asia warms up twice as quickly as the world’s averages due to its large land mass, explaining that land temperatures increase more quickly than those on the sea.

“” Surface temperature variations have a significant impact on natural systems and on human beings“Said the report.

The oceans around Asia also experience temperature increases with surface temperatures in the Indian and peaceful oceans reaching record levels in 2024.

In addition, prolonged heat waves, both on land and on the sea, have wreaked havoc in the region, leading to the melting of glaciers and upwards of the sea level.

Too little water

Some Asian countries and communities have been ravaged by record precipitation. Northern Kerala in India, for example, experienced a deadly landslide that killed more than 350 people.

Record precipitation associated with the melting snow in Kazakhstan, which houses thousands of glaciers, has led to the worst floods in 70 years.

Others were ravaged by the exact opposite problem – not enough precipitation. Summer drought in China, for example, affected more than 4.76 million people and damaged hundreds of thousands of hectares of cultures.

WMO stressed in the report that the only way to adapt to these increasingly polar weather models is to install more complete early alert systems which are coupled with capacity building measures that allow communities to be more resilient.

Nepal: a case study in preparation

The WMO report praised the success that Nepal has experienced in the installation of early alert systems that monitor the risk of flooding, among others, even if they have declared that more complete measures were necessary.

Between September 26 and 28, 2024, Nepal experienced extreme precipitation which created landslides and floods through large expanses of the country. 246 people were killed, 178 injured and more than 200 missing following the climate emergency.

Although the impact of the crisis is extreme, the first flood alert systems allowed communities to prepare for evacuation in addition to crisis stakeholders to quickly reach the most affected regions.

“” It was the first time in 65 years that the flood was so bad. We had no victim thanks to the preparation and rescue measures, but the damage was deepened“Said Rameh Karki, mayor of Barahakshetra, a municipality affected in eastern Nepal.

In addition, complete national protocols on emergency financing assured that the financing of humanitarian and reconstruction needs was quickly dispersed throughout the country.

WMO said they were working with the Nepalese government and other partners to continue improving these systems.

“The work of national meteorological and hydrological services and their partners is more important than ever to save lives and livelihoods,” said Ms. Saulo.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (Aiea), was addressed to the Council of Agency Governors, in the midst of new reports of new Israeli missile strikes on Iranian military sites in Tehran and elsewhere earlier on Monday. Iranian fire fire has also been reported through Israel.

Mr. Grossi – who also discussed a Emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Sunday – insisted that the agency’s arms inspectors should return to Iranian nuclear sites and take into account their stocks.

There is a particular concern of around 400 kilograms of uranium enriched at 60% by Iran.

Under the terms of a 2015 nuclear agreement with the international community, Iran is authorized to enrich natural radioactive materials within four percent.

“Corteres are now visible on the Fordow site, the main location of Iran to enrich the 60%uranium, indicating the use of penetrating ammunition on the ground; This complies with the statements of the United States, “he told the Council of IAEA Governors.”Currently, no one comprising the IAEA, is able to fully evaluate the underground damage in Fordow. »»

Mr. Grossi said that taking into account the highly explosive payload used in American attacks, “very important damage should have taken place” very Sensitive centrifuge machines used to enrich Uranium with Fordow.

Several sites have struck

Fordow is one of the many nuclear sites across Iran that are known to have been damaged in strikes by the United States, including those of Esfahan, Arak and Tehran.

In comments to the UN Security advice On Sunday, in New York, the head of the IAEA said that although the radiation levels remained normal outside these nuclear installations, deep concerns remained concerning the Iran operational nuclear power plant in Bushehr.

Any strike on Bushehr could trigger a release of massive influence in the region – “the risk is real,” said Grosi.

Eleven days after Israel launched air and missile strikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites, some 430 people were killed in Iran, most civilians.

According to Israeli reports, 25 people were killed and more than 1,300 injured by Iranian missiles.

Visitors can explore the 80th anniversary of the UN history to advance peace, human rights, sustainable development and climate action and see how the work of the United Nations system has an impact on the lives of all people around the world.

What are the different sections of the pavilion and what they are trying to achieve?

We have four exhibition zones. The first zone represents 80 years of the history of the UN, highlighting the key stages from 1945 to today. It also shows the evolution of the relationship between Japan and the UN.

In the 1940s, after the devastation of the Second World War, Japan was a recipient of the United Nations assistance. But after Japan joined the UN (in 1956), he gradually started taking leadership in different fields, for example in climate change issues, reduction in disaster risks and the supply of universal health coverage.

Zone two shows the work of various United Nations entities. Visitors will note that there are many everyday objects on the wall; A toilet, a helmet, a car seat, a postal box, but they may not realize that these articles are in fact closely linked to the UN work.

By pressing the monitor, the elements light up and an explanation is given on its relationship with the work of the UN.

One of the objectives of this area is to demonstrate that the UN does not only concern conflict resolution. In Japan, when the UN is mentioned, many people think of Security advice And ask why Japan is not a permanent member.

We wanted to show in an interesting interactive way that UN work is much more than that.

In zone three, which represents the future, we show through an immersive film, a vision of the sustainable future that we can achieve if we work together. In the film, the UN Secretary General says that this future is not automatic, but it is the one we can achieve together.

The last part of the pavilion is the special exhibition zone which presents the work of different United Nations entities each week.

Why is it important that the UN is here at Expo?

I would say that 90% of Japanese people know the Sustainable development objectives (ODD), but many do not know what they can do in their lives to contribute to the SDGs, or understand the positive role played by the UN by making SDGs a reality in a global context. We therefore considered that it was important to explain this work.

There are around 160 different countries participating in the exhibition and they are there to present their own cultures.

But it is the UN that can encourage countries to work together to reach peace and a sustainable world. Thus, collaboration and multilateralism are key themes of the pavilion.

Why is this message important?

The world is divided right now and you can feel anxiety about it, even in Japan. This anxiety is not only focused on political issues, but also on environmental and other challenges that go beyond the country’s level. At the United Nations pavilion, they can learn more about these challenges but also about solutions.

I am so proud to be part of a team that explains how the UN helps solve these global problems. It is rewarding to interact with visitors and support their UN understanding.

Many are surprised by the range of work in which the organization is initiated, and everyone is inspired by our messages.

What is the most surprising reaction you had from a visitor?

There has been a great interest and a great commitment to the immersive video which envisages a future full of hope that all humanity can appreciate if we work together. It has a very simple message on collaboration which can be easily understood by people of all ages and from all horizons.

Many people have been deeply affected by his message and I have seen moved tears.

I believe that visitors feel closer to the UN after having lived the video and the rest of the pavilion. I come from Japan and I think a lot of people are surprised to meet a Japanese national working for the UN. It also helps to bring them closer to the UN work.

What is the importance and relevance of an exhibition in today’s world?

There is really no other place like this one, where you can meet people from Uzbekistan, then people next to Malta. I think it is such a rare opportunity, in particular at this time of the Internet, to be able to discover the culture and values ​​of so many different nations.

Initially, the Japanese were somewhat skeptical and critical of the cost of setting up, because they said they could find all the information on the Internet.

However, when they visit, they realize that they can really see, feel and discover different cultures in person. It’s very different to read something on the internet or watch YouTube.

This place is so special and people come here with an open and interesting mind.

I think the time of this exhibition is important because there is so much uncertainty and conflict in the world. At the UN, we are here to promote a better world for all people built on equality, dignity and peace, living in harmony with nature and supporting our planet. We hope to share this positive vision with as many visitors as possible to the end of the exhibition in mid-October.