The Himalayas are nearing a critical tipping point as glaciers melt faster than they did a decade ago, raising serious concerns over future water security across the region, according to a study released this month.
The region is also moving toward “peak water” by mid-century, the point at which river flows stop increasing and begin to decline.
The warning comes after the collapse of a Himalayan glacier along the Nepal-Tibet border in late August, which triggered landslides and flash floods in nearby valleys. At least 1,300 people have been confirmed dead, while more than 5,300 remain missing across Nepal and China’s Tibet region.
The study found that retreating glaciers are leaving behind unstable glacial lakes, many of which are held back by loose rock and ice. These lakes are located above valleys where millions of people live, increasing the risk to downstream communities.
The research was produced by sustainability advisory firm Systemiq in collaboration with the Integrated Mountain Initiative, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, and India’s GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment.
According to the study, glacier mass loss across the Himalayas has accelerated in recent decades. However, only 21 glaciers are currently monitored on the ground out of an estimated 40,000 glaciers across the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region.
The Hindu Kush-Himalaya stretches across eight countries, from Afghanistan to Myanmar.
In India alone, nearly 200 glacial lakes have been identified as high risk, including 56 classified as “very high risk,” leaving millions of people downstream exposed to potential disasters.
The study warned that the approach toward peak water could have major consequences for regional water security as river flows eventually begin to decline.
The Himalayas also hold major economic importance for India, supporting more than 20 percent of the country’s GDP and forming a key part of its national economic infrastructure. Hundreds of millions of people depend on the region.
Although the Himalayan region covers around 18 percent of India’s land area, it accounts for roughly 35 percent of the country’s natural disasters.
The post Himalayan Glaciers Near Tipping Point as Water Crisis Threatens Millions appeared first on ProPakistani.
