Himalayan glacier loss accelerates, threatening water security by mid-century
ACCELERATING Himalayan glacier melt is pushing the region towards “peak water” by mid-century, threatening water supplies and increasing the risk of landslides and glacial lake floods in valleys home to millions, according to a study released this mo...
A new study warns that the Himalayas are approaching a "glacier bankruptcy" that could threaten water security for 2 billion people in Asia. According to the research, glaciers are melting faster than a decade ago, with 40,000 glaciers in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya region losing mass at an accelerated rate. The collapse of a glacier in late August along the Nepal-Tibet border triggered landslides and flash floods, killing at least 1,300 and leaving more than 5,300 missing.
Experts warn that the region is nearing "peak water," the point when river flows stop rising and start declining. This will have profound implications for water security in the coming decades. The study found that 56 glacial lakes in India were classified as "very high risk", leaving millions exposed downstream. As Himalayan glaciers continue to shrink, experts predict an era of "glacier bankruptcy" in which permanent water shortages will spread across India and large parts of Asia.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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