Climate Change

Mountains may be rugged and majestic, but they’re also fragile environments that are particularly vulnerable to climate change. The high peaks of the Himalayas are a vast storehouse of water in frozen form, with the world’s greatest concentration of ice outside the polar region. This “third pole” helps to provide the water that 1.3 billion people depend on for survival, along with the annual monsoon, which is also impacted by climate change. 

The warming trend in the Himalayas is higher than the global average, which is a cause for grave concern. Climate change also contributes to the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events and natural hazards. Unseasonal rainfall can lead to flooding and destroy crops; too little rain can also mean crop failure and have broad-reaching consequences on the economy and people’s lives. Habitat change has an impact on wildlife, farming and grazing conditions, natural resources from timber to medicinal herbs, and the survival of a rich variety of unique cultures.

A focus on the need for scientific data, informed policymaking and effective adaptation to climate change is a crucial component of ICIMOD’s work.