Himalayan glaciers melting 65% faster, black carbon to blame: Study
The report, came weeks after a glacial collapse led to deadly flash floods in Nepal, claiming at least 1,350 lives and leaving several hundreds still missing.
Himalayan glaciers are melting 65% faster than they did a decade ago, according to a new study. Black carbon, or soot, is the primary driver of this accelerated melting, accounting for one-third of the glacier melt. The study, conducted by global consultancy Systemiq in collaboration with the Integrated Mountain Initiative, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, warns that the Hindu Kush Himalayas could lose up to 80% of its glacier volume by 2100 if current trends continue.
This decline in glaciers could lead to a significant reduction in water availability for the 40 million people living in the region. The report also highlights the lack of monitoring systems, with only around 21 out of the nearly 40,000 glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region being monitored.
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