THE alarming findings of a recent study conducted by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) should serve as a wake-up call for the world. The Hindu Kush Himalayan region, encompassing the towering peaks of the world’s highest mountains, is facing an imminent crisis. Rapidly melting glaciers and shrinking permafrost pose a severe threat to the lives and livelihoods of approximately two billion people residing downstream.
The ramifications of this unfolding environmental catastrophe are dire. Freshwater supplies, sustaining 12 rivers that traverse 16 nations, are at risk of depletion over time. The consequences will be far-reaching, adversely affecting agriculture, food security, energy sources, and biodiversity hotspots. Glacial lake outburst floods, landslides, and flash floods are becoming increasingly common, leaving devastation in their wake.
While the planet continues to warm at an alarming rate, with temperatures already surpassing pre-industrial levels by 1.2 degrees Celsius, urgent and concerted action is needed. The burning of fossil fuels, the primary driver of climate change, must be curtailed through swift and substantial emissions cuts. It is essential that governments, donors, and international agencies align their efforts to combat this existential crisis.
The melting ice in the Himalayas is a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of our world. The impacts will not be confined to the region alone; they will reverberate globally. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the displacement of millions are just a few of the consequences we will face if we fail to act decisively.
Kashmir Valley too has a cause to be worried about the turn that the climate is taking. According to reports and some surveys, many natural streams in various parts of the Valley have run dry in recent years. And the reason for this is the steady depletion of the glaciers. This has not only reduced the discharge in the rivers and streams but also made many water bodies extinct, affecting the irrigation in the Valley. Experts worry that the fast melting glaciers are decreasing the discharge in the region’s rivers, limiting their capacity to irrigate land. Triggering alarm bells is the slowly shrinking Kolahai glacier, the biggest in Valley, which is the source of Lidder and Sindh, two major streams of river Jhelum.
That is why it is critical that the world acts in concert to address this deepening crisis. Governments must honour their commitments to limit global warming under 1.5 degree celsius and transition away from fossil fuels. The melting ice in the Himalayas is an unmistakable signpost on the road to a climate catastrophe. Let us heed this warning, unite our efforts, and take decisive action to preserve the glaciers that shape our world. Failure to do so will bring about irreversible consequences, further exacerbating the already precarious state of our planet.
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