Philippines 3rd in Asia for unusual heat due to climate change

A new study by Climate Central found that the Philippines ranked third among 51 Asian countries for unusual heat linked to climate change between December 2024 and February 2025.

The country experienced 74 days with a Climate Shift Index (CSI) of level 2 or higher, indicating that climate change made these temperatures at least twice more likely.

Manila was also ranked third among 38 megacities for experiencing heat influenced by climate change for at least one-third of the season, sharing this ranking with Jakarta, Indonesia.

Climate Central highlighted that cities are hotspots of heat risk due to high population density and urban development patterns that intensify heat in urban areas.

Greenpeace called on the Philippine government to pass the proposed Climate Accountability (CLIMA) Act to address climate loss and damage accountability, emphasizing the need for better preparedness measures such as weather forecasting systems and grants for affected sectors.