FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | September 23, 2025
Supertyphoon Ragasa exposes extreme climate injustice as world leaders gather
Supertyphoon Ragasa, the strongest storm on earth this year, has led to mass evacuations, school closures, and flight disruptions in the Philippines, Taiwan, Hongkong and China. The powerful typhoon is ravaging parts of Asia at the same time that world leaders are gathered at New York for Climate Action Week.
Category 5 typhoons such as Ragasa have become increasingly common due to climate change. In the Philippines, seven of the 11 strongest tropical cyclone landfalls in recorded history have occurred since 2006.
Norly Mercado, 350.org Asia Regional Director says:
“Political and business leaders are gathering to discuss the climate crisis at the exact moment when extreme injustice is rearing its ugly head in poor and climate vulnerable nations. In the Philippines, no sooner has violence erupted in street protests over billions stolen from flood control projects than we must hunker down to brace for the violent impacts of another climate disaster. This is why there’s so much pent-up anger: disaster-hit communities are left to fend for themselves while corrupt politicians and polluters profit. Like corruption, supertyphoons are a man-made crisis—caused by decades of exploitation and profiteering by rich nations and big climate polluters.
Now is the moment for all countries, especially those most responsible for the climate crisis, to step up with climate action plans fully aligned with the Paris Agreement. Weeks from now, leaders will again meet in Brazil for the UN Climate Change Conference. COP30 must deliver a clear roadmap to phase out fossil fuels, triple renewable energy, and ensure rich nations pay their climate debt. Failure to do so spells more climate chaos and social unrest in the months and years to come.”
Media Contact:
Ilang-Ilang Quijano,
350.org Asia Communications Manager,
[email protected], +639175810934