Himalayan Glaciers Face 80% Ice Loss by 2100, Report Warns

In a recent report, international scientists warn that the world’s highest peaks, including the Hindu Kush and Himalayan mountain ranges, could lose up to 80% of their ice volume by 2100 due to rising temperatures. The implications are alarming as the glaciers feed 12 rivers that provide fresh water to two billion people in 16 countries, including China, India, and Pakistan. With such a massive ice melt, too much water could eventually turn into too little, threatening water security for millions.

Source: CBS News/Youtube

The report, published by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), revealed that the glaciers in this region have melted 65% faster in the 2010s compared to the previous decade, suggesting that Climate change is already taking a toll. The group’s previous report in 2019 had estimated a loss of one-third of the region’s glaciers even under the most optimistic case of limiting Global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures.

However, their updated projections have worsened. Even with Global warming between 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius, up to 50% of the ice volume in the world’s highest mountain region could be lost by 2100. If the world breaches a 3 degrees Celsius rise in temperature, glaciers in Nepal and Bhutan in the eastern Himalayas stand to lose up to 80% of their ice.

These predictions pose significant threats to the livelihoods of the local communities in the region, who rely on glacial waters for agriculture and livestock. Rapid glacial melt may initially flood farmlands downstream, followed by periods of drought as water sources dry up. Furthermore, the erosion of glacial slopes increases the likelihood of floods, landslides, and avalanches, jeopardizing the safety of millions living in these mountain communities.

With such grim projections, it’s evident that immediate, decisive action is needed to mitigate the impacts of climate change and safeguard the well-being of millions who rely on these glaciers.

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