The 65 percent acceleration in mass loss from Himalayan glaciers over the past decade compared with the previous period has increased environmental and humanitarian risks in the region. A joint report by Systemiq and India-based civil society organization Integrated Mountain Initiative (IMI) found that the region is approaching a critical threshold and that millions of people are at risk.
More than 1,300 people died in flooding in areas of Nepal near the Chinese border on August 26, bringing the risks posed by Himalayan glaciers back into focus.
Only a small share of glaciers is monitored
The report estimated that there are around 40,000 glaciers in the Himalayas, of which only 0.1 percent are monitored. It also said that information on permafrost remains limited, alongside the accelerating loss of glaciers.
This lack of information makes it more difficult to monitor environmental hazards in the Himalayas.
South Asia’s water system
The Himalayas form part of a natural water system that supports the livelihoods of more than 2 million people in South Asia. According to the report, disasters in the region could disrupt global supply chains and cause displacement, while also increasing geopolitical risks.
India is also among the countries threatened by disasters caused by glacier melt. Eighteen percent of India’s territory lies in the Himalayan region. The report said that around 35 percent of disasters in the country occur in this region and that the Indian economy is at risk.