Yangyel Lhaden

Baku, Azerbaijan—The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, which includes Bhutan, is warming at an alarming rate, losing glaciers at twice the speed of other mountain ranges due to its proximity to the tropics.

The director general of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Dr Pema Gyamtsho (PhD), said this at a high-level ministers’ meeting at COP29.

The region’s glaciers are melting faster, threatening the water supply for billions of people downstream. There has been a significant increase in glacier mass loss in the region, with around 65 percent of the loss in 2010 compared to the previous decade.

“Even at 1.5 degrees Celsius, one-third of glaciers will be lost,” the Director General  of ICIMOD said.  “1.5 degrees Celsius is too hot for the HKH. The cryosphere—ice—cannot wait. Low emissions are critical.”

The 1.5 degree Celsius target under the Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change.

Under the current scenario, it is estimated that by 2100, 50 percent of glaciers would remain at 2 degrees Celsius warming, 25 to 45 percent at 3 degrees Celsius, and 20 to 30 percent at 4 degrees Celsius, according to a study by ICIMOD.

Glacier loss and  climate impact

The HKH, known as the “Third Pole” and the “Water Towers of Asia”, spans 350 kilometres in length and over four million square kilometres, and is home to 54,000 glaciers. It provides water to 1.6 billion people downstream across eight countries and 10 major river systems.

However, due to climate change, the region is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, affecting 240 million people living in the mountains and downstream.

This year, Bhutan faced flash floods and numerous landslides during the monsoon between July and August, with five extreme weather events affecting seven villages, causing significant loss and damage.

In Nepal, a recent glacier outburst in the Everest region, along with extreme flooding and landslides triggered by unprecedented rainfall, displaced 135 people and caused 208 fatalities. In Kanchanpur, Nepal, extreme rainfall in July caused damage to physical infrastructure, agriculture, and livestock, with total losses estimated at Rs 1.57 billion.

Afghanistan experienced severe flooding in May, resulting in over 300 deaths and thousands of homes destroyed.

Bangladesh was also affected by severe flooding, with 23 deaths and 5.7 million people impacted across 11 districts.

Urgency for cooperation and action

Despite the critical importance of monitoring glaciers and permafrost in the region, ICIMOD reports that only 28 out of 50,000 glaciers are being monitored, and only five of the 200 potentially dangerous glacial lakes are under observation.

Permafrost, a key indicator of climate change, remains largely unstudied due to a lack of resources.

“We need regional cooperation, and we need to act now to protect HKH,” Pema Gyamtsho said. “We also need money to be able to study well, so we hope mountains get attention in this COP29.”

The secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Karma Tshering, echoed the call for simplified access to climate finance, stressing the need for the inclusion of mountain-specific indicators in the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) under the Paris Agreement.  “It is a chance to align our actions to secure a future where mountain communities are empowered, ecosystems are protected, and development is sustainable.”

At COP28 last year, mountains were included in the GGA, and Bhutan has submitted 39 mountain and well-being-specific indicators. “We hope to maximise the benefits from the GGA and secure most, if not all, of the 39 indicators adopted in the final decision text,” Karma Tshering  said.

However, there is a gap in recognizing the unique challenges of mountainous regions within the UNFCCC framework. While mountains are acknowledged as vulnerable, they do not have a dedicated section or specific focus within the climate policy framework, unlike issues such as forests, oceans, or agriculture.

This story is produced as part of the COP29 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organised by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.