Kathmandu, July 8 - The South-West Pacific is facing an increasingly severe climate crisis as rising ocean temperatures, accelerating sea-level rise and worsening ocean acidification threaten the region's ecosystems, economies and vulnerable coastal communities, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in its newly released State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2025 report.
The report reveals that 2025 was the second-warmest year on record for the South-West Pacific, surpassed only by 2024. Average surface air temperatures across the region were 0.37°C above the 1991–2020 average, reflecting the continued impact of human-induced climate change and long-term global warming.
One of the report's most alarming findings is the rapid warming of the Pacific Ocean. Vast areas experienced prolonged marine heatwaves, placing immense stress on coral reefs, fisheries and marine biodiversity that millions of people depend upon for food security, livelihoods and tourism. Simultaneously, increasing ocean acidification is reducing the ability of corals and shell-forming marine organisms to grow, threatening the ecological balance of one of the world's richest marine environments.
The WMO also warns that sea-level rise remains one of the greatest long-term threats to the South-West Pacific. Low-lying island nations and coastal communities are increasingly exposed to coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies, tidal flooding and damage to homes, infrastructure and agricultural land. Small Island Developing States are among the most vulnerable despite contributing only a tiny fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Another striking indicator of the rapidly changing climate is the continued retreat of tropical glaciers. The report notes that Indonesia's last remaining tropical glacier has shrunk to only about two percent of its 1988 extent and could disappear entirely during 2026, highlighting the unprecedented pace of warming across the region.
Although tropical cyclone activity varied during the year, extreme weather continued to inflict devastating impacts. The WMO emphasizes that climate change is amplifying the intensity and consequences of extreme events, increasing risks to human lives, infrastructure and national economies.
WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo stressed that every fraction of a degree of warming matters, urging governments to strengthen climate adaptation, invest in resilient infrastructure and expand early warning systems. The organization reiterated that effective forecasting and early action can significantly reduce disaster-related losses and save lives, particularly in vulnerable island nations.
The report serves as another stark reminder that the South-West Pacific has become one of the world's frontline regions experiencing the consequences of climate change. Scientists warn that without rapid global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and stronger investment in climate resilience, ocean warming, sea-level rise and ecosystem degradation will continue to accelerate, posing growing risks not only to Pacific nations but to global environmental stability.
Source: World Meteorological Organization (WMO), State of the Climate in the South-West Pacific 2025 Report.
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