Trouble at Third Pole

The Himalayas, which we Indians have considered invincible and unconquerable, have been noticeably impacted by climate change. But with the spectre of climate change, the Stern report has said, “China’s human development could face a major U-turn by mid century unless urgent measures are taken to ‘climate proof’ development results.” Himalayan Glaciers are receding faster today than the world average. Disaster ahead In Asia, climate change-induced glacial melt could seriously affect half a billion people in the Himalayan region, and a quarter of a billion people in China, people who depend on glacial melt for their water supply. The current trends in glacial melt suggest that the low flow will become substantially reduced as a consequence of climate change The effect of this on food production will be catastrophic. As he said, “Climate change has become a major issue in the Hindu Khush – Himalayan region as the mountain regions are particularly vulnerable.” In some ways global challenges like climate change and poverty can be seen as great dividers — exposing the degrees of separation between people who can afford to cope and people who cannot.