A new report from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development has warned that glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan mountain ranges could lose up to 80% of their volume this century if greenhouse gas emissions are not substantially reduced. The report highlights that flash floods and avalanches are likely to become more frequent in the area, with the availability of fresh water also threatened for nearly two billion people who live downstream of 12 rivers that originate in the mountains. The ice and snow in the Hindu Kush Himalayan ranges are a crucial source of water for these rivers, which flow through 16 countries in Asia and provide fresh water to 240 million people in the mountains and another 1.65 billion downstream.
Key Findings
The report outlines that the Himalayan glaciers have disappeared 65% faster since 2010 than in the previous decade and that reducing snow cover due to global warming will result in reduced fresh water for people living downstream. The study also found that 200 glacier lakes across these mountains are deemed dangerous, and the region could see a significant spike in glacial lake outburst floods by the end of the century. The mountain communities are already facing the worst effects of climate change, and the changes to the glaciers, snow, and permafrost of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region driven by global warming are “unprecedented and largely irreversible.”
Expert Opinion
Pam Pearson, director of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, stated that once ice melts in these regions, it’s very difficult to put it back to its frozen form. She compared it to a big ship in the ocean, stating that once the ice starts going, it’s very hard to stop. The report highlights that the people living in the mountains have contributed next to nothing to global warming but are at high risk due to climate change. The researchers are concerned that without greater support, these communities will be unable to cope. The report emphasizes that the current adaptation efforts are wholly insufficient.
The report concludes that it is extremely important for Earth’s snow, permafrost, and ice to limit warming to the 1.5 degrees Celsius agreed to at the 2015 Paris climate conference. However, the study found that the effects of climate change are already felt by Himalayan communities sometimes acutely, with earlier this year, the Indian mountain town of Joshimath sinking and residents having to be relocated within days. The report highlights the urgency for policymakers to take the goal of limiting warming seriously, stating that irreversible changes are already happening, and the cryosphere is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
In summary, the report warns of the devastating consequences of the Himalayan glaciers losing 80% of their volume due to climate change. It highlights the urgent need for policymakers to take action to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the mountain communities who are at high risk due to climate change.
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