Two-thirds of the Himalayan glaciers melt from here 2100 | Nature

Large glaciers form the region of the Hindu Kush and Himalayas (HKH), considered the third pole of the Earth, beyond Antarctica and 39; ;Arctic. The HKH region includes a 4.2 million square kilometer mountain network spanning Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.

"This is a climate crisis that no one has heard of," said lead author Philippus Wester, of the International Center for Disease Control. Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). "Global warming can transform the cold peaks covered by an HKH glacier that cover eight countries into rocks discovered in a little less than a century," he added.

The study indicates that even though greenhouse gas emission reductions achieve the goals set in the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1. 5 ° C, a third of the glaciers of the Himalayas will melt during this century.

The region is home to the highest peaks in the world, a vast nature reserve and watersheds that provide water, food and energy to the 240 million people who live in the mountains .

In addition, 1.65 billion people living in the valleys benefit directly or indirectly from their resources, and more than 3 billion people receive food developed through this ecosystem.

According to the report, the melting of glaciers ranges from air pollution to the intensification of extreme weather events. Agriculture in the HKH region and the water supply and energy production systems would also be affected.

Melting would affect the flow of rivers, such as the Mekong, Yangtze, Indus and Ganges, where farmers depend on melting glaciers during periods of drought. Climate change can also cause erosion and landslides in the mountains.

Melting would also lead to losses for tourism, one of the main sources of revenue in the region. "We are living in a difficult period, and by 2080, the economic and social conditions anticipated in the report could worsen," said Eklabya ​​Sharma, Deputy Director General of ICIMOD.

Formed about 70 million years ago, the glaciers of the Himalayas are very sensitive to changes in temperature. Since the 1970s, their numbers have dropped considerably. According to Sharma, the complete melting of the ice at HKH would raise the sea level by 1.5 meters.

The study also estimates that the region is expected to invest more than $ 4.6 billion a year by 2030 and $ 7.8 billion by 2050 to adapt. the impacts of climate change.