Opinion by Anjal Prakash
Opinion Melting glaciers is not just an environmental crisis but a humanitarian one
As glaciers face unprecedented melting due to global warming, preserving them is crucial for global water security, agriculture, and ecosystems
The urgent challenge posed by glacial melt has prompted a global response spearheaded by entities such as the United Nations, a key component of which is a call to reduce carbon emissions.(File photo) 
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Glaciers are not just frozen masses of ice adorning the world’s mountains; they are vital components of our ecosystem, crucial for sustaining life on Earth. They fuel our rivers, provide drinking water, and support agricultural production. However, these majestic ice formations are under siege from climate change, and their preservation is imperative for future generations. A recent UN report has warned that retreating glaciers threaten the food and water supply of two billion people around the world.
Glaciers are nature’s most significant freshwater reservoirs, storing approximately 70 per cent of the world’s available freshwater. They are a lifeline for billions of people during dry seasons, particularly those in arid or semi-arid regions. When snowpacks melt and glaciers recede, they feed rivers and streams essential for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower generation.
Beyond their contributions to water supply and energy production, glaciers influence regional and global weather patterns. They modulate temperatures and precipitation levels, acting as climate regulators that help temper extremes. Without healthy glaciers, we risk destabilising local climates, leading to unpredictable weather and agricultural challenges.
As glaciers melt, they contribute to rising sea levels, threatening coastal communities worldwide. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects that sea levels could rise significantly by the end of the century, with catastrophic implications for millions of people living in low-lying areas.
Additionally, as glaciers shrink, the water flow into rivers diminishes, posing a significant risk to downstream communities. For example, millions depend on glacial meltwater for drinking and agriculture in regions like the Himalayas. The reduced flow threatens food security and may lead to conflicts over water resources.
Ecosystems are also at risk; the unique flora and fauna that depend on glacial environments face extinction if these habitats vanish. Rising temperatures cause a ripple effect that can result in biodiversity loss. As glaciers disappear, so too does the biodiversity that has thrived in these environments for millennia, revealing a sobering truth: Melting glaciers is not just an environmental crisis but a humanitarian one.
A 2023 report from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) highlights critical changes occurring in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region due to climate change, which threatens the lives of two billion people. The ICIMOD study, titled ‘Water, Ice, Society, and Ecosystems in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HI-WISE)’, reveals that glaciers in the region are melting at an alarming rate — 65 per cent faster from 2011 to 2020 compared to the previous decade. The report warns that without urgent action, HKH glaciers could lose up to 80 per cent of their volume by the century’s end, significantly impacting freshwater supplies for major rivers such as the Amu Darya, Indus, and Helmand.
As per the findings, the extent of snow cover is anticipated to decline by up to 25 per cent under high emissions scenarios, leading to increased water insecurity and complicating adaptation efforts for vulnerable mountain communities. The cascading impacts of these changes could include more frequent landslides, glacial lake outburst floods, and shifts in ecosystems, jeopardising both biodiversity and human livelihoods. The study indicates that the HKH’s critical ice and snow are essential for the freshwater needs of 240 million mountain people and over 1.65 billion downstream.
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The urgent challenge posed by glacial melt has prompted a global response spearheaded by entities such as the United Nations, a key component of which is a call to reduce carbon emissions, which are at the root of climate change. Transitioning to renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable transportation can significantly mitigate the factors contributing to climate change and, consequently, glacier melt. Additionally, international collaboration is essential; nations must share knowledge, technologies, and best practices to combat this global crisis effectively.
While global initiatives are crucial, local and community-level strategies are key to the practical implementation of solutions. Developing adaptive measures to cope with changed water flows as glaciers recede is essential. For instance, investments in water conservation programmes can help communities manage their resources sustainably. Implementing rainwater harvesting systems and improving irrigation efficiency can alleviate some pressure on dwindling water supplies. In Peru, for example, farmers have adopted innovative practices like cloud seeding and building water reservoirs to counteract the decline of Andean glaciers. These community-focused initiatives help promote resilience in the face of climate challenges.
The writer is a clinical associate professor (Research) and research director at Bharti Institute of Public Policy, Indian School of Business (ISB). He was the coordinator of a project on glaciated river basins of South Asia and also the contributing lead author of the IPCC’s special report on oceans and cryosphere published in 2019.
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