Himalaya approaching tipping point, report says
A new report warns that Himalayan glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate, threatening water security for millions. The region faces a 'peak water' tipping point that could have severe economic and humanitarian consequences.
Why it matters
The melting of Himalayan glaciers poses a critical threat to the water supply and economic stability of a large portion of the Asian population.
The Himalaya are approaching a tipping point as glaciers melt faster than a decade ago, threatening water security as the region approaches “peak water“ by mid-century, according to a study released this month.
The findings come after the collapse of a Himalayan glacier in late August along the Nepal-Tibet border, which caused cascading landslides and flash floods in the valleys below. At least 1,300 people have been confirmed dead and more than 5,300 are missing across Nepal and China’s Tibet region.
As glaciers retreat, they are leaving behind unstable glacial lakes held back by little more than loose rock and ice, above valleys where millions of people live, the study found.
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