Be Aware: climate change in the Himalaya

A WARMING THIRD POLE

Climate Crisis in the Himalayas

The glaciers and mountains are sacred to people in Bhutan. But climate change is making ice and snow disappear.

GLOF

GLACIAL LAKE OUTBURST FLOODS

Perched at more than 4,400m elevation, four glacial lakes above the Bhutanese village of Lunana pose serious threats. Melting glaciers due to global warming means higher water levels, which increase the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), threatening lives and livelihoods downstream.

In 1994, Luggye lake did exactly that. The flood released enough water to fill 7,200 Olympic swimming pools, hurling 5 million tons of rocks, wood, and mud downstream.

The GLOF uprooted thousands of trees, claimed lives, and destroyed homes, farmland and infrastructure in its path.

The line etched on the mountainside shows where the glacier used to be.

GLOFs are happening with increasing frequency not just in Bhutan, but also in other Himalayan countries like Nepal, India, China-Tibet, as well as in the rest of the world with mountain glaciers.

BHUTAN GLACIAL LAKE SIZES

1987 - 1994 - 2004 - 2014 - 2024

NOT-SO-NATURAL DISASTERS

Rapid changes in average temperatures and precipitation patterns have caused excessive rains, flash floods, landslides, hailstorms, and droughts over the past years

These disasters have led to loss of lives, homes, and destruction of water sources for drinking and agriculture.

Changing water availability due to the rapid melting of glaciers affects ecosystems and biodiversity in both the Himalayas and downstream regions.

Researchers warn that more lakes could burst soon, possibly releasing three times as much water as in the 1994 flood.

AGRICULTURE WOES

Rainfall has become erratic and intense. Long dry spells has been occurring and at other times it was a deluge that went on for days.

Climate change is greatly affecting agricultural land and produce in a Bhutan and other Himalayan countries, where agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for some 80% of the population.

In the harsh and cold landscapes of highland communities, only a few variety of crops can be grown. The erratic weather due to climate change has affected crop harvests.

LIVELIHOOD OF HIGHLAND PEOPLE

Highland villagers in Bhutan are heavily dependent on cordyceps harvesting, which had improved lives and livelihoods.

However, the highlands of Bhutan have warmed considerably, and cordyceps have disappeared from where they used to grow. Harvest volume has dropped by 67% compared to a decade ago.

As a result, they may have to harvest in wilder, more dangerous places, or be more dependent on back-breaking farm work and yak herding.

WHERE IS THE SNOW?

Where first snowfall used to occur in October, there are recent years where snow only fell in March.

By then, it was already warm in early Spring, and the snow melted quickly leading to reduced snow cover on the mountains.

In addition to glacier melting, reduced snowfall accelerates the retreat of Himalayan glaciers.

2 BILLION OF US DEPENDS ON THE HIMALAYAS

IN FACT, ALL OF US

2 billion people in different countries are dependent on the Himalayas as a critical source of water to seven major rivers: the Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, Salween, Mekong, Yangtze, and Huang Ho, for drinking, sanitation, hydropower and agriculture.

Floods, Followed By Droughts

As Himalayan glaciers melt, it initially brings floods, landslides and increased water flow, but in the long term, the shrinking glaciers will mean drought will follow.

If glacier ice continues to vanish at this rate, these rivers could lose two-thirds of its summer water flow, impacting water availability and irrigated farmland for 2 billion people, thus affecting food security and economic stability in the region and beyond.

Sea Level Rise

The melting of mountain glaciers contributes one-third towards the rise in sea level. Himalayan glaciers are on track to lose up to 80% of ice by 2100, and the rate of loss is speeding up.

European Alps will lose 34% of glaciers by 2050, even if global warming stops immediately. In reality, more than 50% volume of ice will dissppear.

The Andes has lost 30-50% of ice in the last 40 years, and in some countries like Venezuela, all glaciers are gone.

Antarctica is losing ice mass at an average rate of about 150 billion tons per year, and Greenland is losing about 270 billion tons per year.

The melting of Himalayan glaciers is a microcosm of broader climate change issues, affecting the rest of the world.

THE BATTLE AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

The thinning of glaciers in Bhutan and across the world has become a new reality as the global climate crisis intensifies.

Glaciers in the Himalayan region will keep shrinking with cascading consequences if the world fails to slash emissions drastically.

Bhutan and its people, despite being the world’s first carbon-negative country, is bearing the brunt of the crisis.

Bhutan is doing its best to battle against climate change. Sustainable development, and the importance of maintaining its rich biodiversity and forest cover is emphasized in governing policies and education.

Bhutan's Gross National Happiness index reflects its holistic approach, placing equal importance on environmental sustainability alongside economic development, thus protecting their environment essential for their future.

However, more needs to be done. Each of us has a role to play collectively, and every small action counts.