Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan mountain ranges are experiencing unprecedented rates of melting, which could lead to an 80% loss in volume by the end of this century unless greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced, warns a report from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. The report highlights the increased risk of flash floods and avalanches in the coming years, as well as the potential curtailment of fresh water for nearly 2 billion people living downstream of the region’s 12 rivers. These rivers provide water to 240 million people in the mountains and 1.65 billion people downstream. The report emphasizes that the communities living in these mountains, who have contributed very little to global warming, are at high risk due to climate change. The current adaptation efforts are deemed insufficient, and without greater support, these communities will struggle to cope.
Previous studies have already shown that the cryosphere, which includes snow and ice-covered regions, is severely impacted by climate change. Mount Everest’s glaciers, for example, have lost 2,000 years’ worth of ice in just the past 30 years. The newly released report maps out the connections between cryosphere changes and their impact on water, ecosystems, and society in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. Key findings from the report include the fact that the Himalayan glaciers are disappearing 65% faster since 2010 compared to the previous decade. Additionally, reduced snow cover due to global warming will result in decreased fresh water availability downstream. The study also identifies 200 glacier lakes in the region as dangerous, raising concerns of a significant increase in glacial lake outburst floods by the end of the century.
The report emphasizes that Himalayan communities are being disproportionately affected by climate change compared to other parts of the world. The changes driven by global warming in the region’s glaciers, snow, and permafrost are described as “unprecedented and largely irreversible.” The effects of climate change are already being felt by these communities, with the Indian mountain town of Joshimath sinking earlier this year, prompting the relocation of its residents within days. The report stresses the importance of limiting global warming to the agreed-upon target of 1.5 degrees Celsius at the 2015 Paris climate conference to mitigate the irreversible changes occurring in Earth’s snow, permafrost, and ice. However, the report suggests that policymakers are not taking this goal seriously enough.
This article is part of AP’s climate change coverage, which is supported by various private foundations. The AP holds full responsibility for all content.
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