UNDP Report on Hindu Kush Himalayan Mountains

  • IASbaba
  • June 11, 2021
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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

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