Scientists warn that the Himalayan glaciers, which provide water for nearly two billion people, are melting faster than ever. Glaciers melted 65 percent faster between 2011 and 2020 than in the previous decade, according to a report released Tuesday by the International Center for Integrated Development of Mountain Regions (ICIMOD).
“It was expected that the ice would melt as it warmed up, but the speed at which this is happening surprised us and is of great concern,” said Philippus Wester, the report’s lead author. “It’s going much faster than we expected.”
Water source for 240 million people
The glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayas are an essential source of water for about 240 million people in the mountainous regions and another 1.65 billion people in the adjacent river valleys, the report found.
80 percent of the volume at risk
Based on current emissions data, glaciers could lose up to 80 percent of their current volume by the end of the century, Nepal-based ICIMOD warned. This intergovernmental organization also includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Pakistan.
The glaciers supply water to ten of the world’s major river systems, including the Ganges, Indus, Yellow River, Mekong and Irrawaddy. They are directly or indirectly responsible for food, energy supply, clean air and income generation for billions of people.
Source: Krone
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