UNDP Report on Hindu Kush Himalayan Mountains

UNDP Report on Hindu Kush Himalayan Mountains

Part of: GS Prelims and GS -III – Climate change; Conservation

In news

• According to UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) report, ‘Melting glaciers; Threatened livelihoods; Confronting climate  change to save the Third pole’, the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) mountain ranges could lose up to two-third of its ice by 2100.
• About 2 billion people may face food, water shortages by 2100.
• Glacier melting in HKH region is caused by:
  • larger anthropogenic modifications of the atmosphere 
  • disruption in weather patterns and precipitation due to global warming 
  • changes in Glacier volume 
  • Unplanned urbanization

Impact 

• Threatens climate as well as monsoon patterns 
• It impacts 10 major river systems which help in agricultural activities, provide drinking water and hydro electricity production in the region 
• socio-economic disruption and human displacement

Recommendation 

• Shifting away from fossil fuel use in energy transport and other sectors 
• Changing diets and agricultural practices to move to net zero emissions of greenhouse gases
• Improve data and information capacity building and early warning systems

Important value additions 

• HKH extends over 8 countries – Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, India Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan 
• It contains the world’s third largest storage of frozen water after Antarctica and Arctica 
• It is also referred as the third pole of the world.

Pic courtesy: Researchgate