Months before Nepal floods, reports flagged livelihood threat from rapid glacier loss in Hindu Kush Himalaya

In a somber reminder of the worsening impacts of climate change, two reports published in recent months raised alarms about the alarming rate at which glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region are melting. The reports, released on World Glaciers Day, revealed that glaciers in the region are losing ice at double the rate since 2000, with some areas experiencing a loss of up to 33% of their glacier area in just three decades.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) noted that the glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya are a critical source of fresh water for nearly two billion people downstream, who depend on meltwater for their livelihoods. The reports also highlighted that around 78% of the glacier area, located between 4,500 and 6,000 metres above sea level, is highly exposed to elevation-dependent warming, making them particularly vulnerable to further loss.

The disaster in Nepal, which saw a surge of water sweep through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli valleys on August 26, killing at least 800 people and leaving over 3,000 missing, may have been triggered by a glacial avalanche. As the reports underscored, the region's glaciers are a vital lifeline for millions downstream, and their rapid loss poses a severe threat to the livelihood security of billions.