The Asia-Pacific region is standing at the epicentre of a growing global “polycrisis” where climate disasters and cyber threats no longer occur separately, but collide in ways that magnify risks and overwhelm response systems.
Experts warn that extreme weather events and digital attacks are increasingly unfolding at the same time, straining governments, businesses and communities. The latest Global Risks Report by the World Economic Forum ranks extreme weather and natural disasters among the most pressing global threats, while cybersecurity and artificial intelligence-related risks have surged in parallel.
Asia and the Pacific is already the world’s most disaster-prone region. In 2023 alone, 66 million people were affected by disasters, with annual losses estimated at US$780 billion. At the same time, the region has become a global hotspot for cybercrime.
In 2024, Asia-Pacific accounted for more than one-third of global cyber incidents, including approximately 135,000 ransomware attacks in Southeast Asia. Countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam were among the hardest hit, with attacks costing an average of US$3.05 million per breach.
Rapid digital transformation accelerated during the pandemic has deepened reliance on online systems. As critical services such as health care, communications, energy and finance become more digitised, climate-driven disruptions like typhoons and floods force systems into emergency workarounds, often weakening cyber defences at the worst possible moment.
The devastating 9.1 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011 revealed early warning signs of this convergence. In the aftermath, cybercriminals exploited the chaos with phishing scams and malware disguised as disaster relief efforts, hampering recovery and stealing sensitive data.
Research now shows that cyberattacks spike during natural disasters, when attention and digital defences are compromised. Government agencies in the United States have repeatedly warned of increased scams following hurricanes and wildfires, underscoring how climate emergencies create fertile ground for digital exploitation.
Climate change is intensifying extreme weather and potentially even seismic activity increasing pressure on already fragile infrastructure. As connectivity falters during floods or power outages, vulnerabilities widen, threatening to paralyse response systems when they are needed most.
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has begun recognising cyber threats within disaster risk taxonomies, reflecting the changing nature of modern crises. Yet in Asia-Pacific, disaster resilience and cybersecurity frameworks largely operate in parallel.
The region implements disaster risk reduction through the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, while regional cybersecurity efforts are coordinated through Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) guidelines and partnerships. However, experts say these efforts rarely intersect in meaningful ways.
While regions such as the Caribbean and Europe are conducting joint climate-cyber assessments and scenario planning, Asia-Pacific has yet to show comparable levels of integrated response or public urgency despite its high exposure to both hazards.
Even global climate forums are falling short. At COP30, discussions focused heavily on how technology can support climate adaptation, but paid limited attention to how those same systems become vulnerable during climate-driven shocks.
Analysts argue that building climate–cyber resilience requires a shift in mindset treating physical and digital threats as interconnected rather than separate policy tracks.
Key recommendations include:
• Conducting joint climate-cyber risk assessments and simulation exercises
• Strengthening backup systems and diversified connectivity for critical services
• Harmonising financing and insurance mechanisms to cover compound risks
• Enhancing regional cooperation and data-sharing
As climate extremes intensify and cyberattacks grow more sophisticated, future disasters are likely to involve multiple, interacting shocks rather than isolated events.
Platforms such as Davos and ASEAN 2026 are increasingly spotlighting systemic risks, and policymakers are being urged to prioritise integrated resilience strategies.
Experts warn that delaying action will only compound the impacts. For Asia-Pacific home to billions of people and some of the world’s fastest-growing economies the stakes could not be higher.