The country is considered a biodiversity hotspot, with nearly a quarter of the land area. Its economic impacts, particularly on the poor, make it a major governance issue as well. Mar 22, 20 how will climate change affect the himalayas. Perspectives on water and climate change adaptation 1. Climate change and its ethical challenges, the bahai world 20052006, p. Climate change in nepal and its impact on himalayan glaciers article pdf available in regional environmental change 11. Rising temperatures could melt most himalayan glaciers by. Mapping vulnerability and threat to ecology and indigenous livelihoods gargi banerji, sejuti basu pragya, india. Jun 25, 20 however, we cannot ignore climate change and its associated challenges when dealing with these issues.
This particular image was taken by nasas advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer aster, flying aboard the terra satellite, on february 27, 2002. Nepal has an extreme altitudinal range from 608850 m with heterogeneous topography and distinct climatic zones. Climate change will melt vast parts of the himalayas. Pdf on jan 1, 2009, mats eriksson and others published the changing himalayas. However, nepal has low adaptive capacity to respond to the variability occurs due to climate change 7. The high himalayan mountains in the north of india are important sources for generating and maintaining the climate over the entire northern belt of the indian. The impact of climate change at the top of the world could. This particular image was taken by nasas advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer aster, flying aboard the terra. The fragile landscapes of the himalayan region are highly susceptible to natural hazards, and there is ongoing concern about current and potential climate change impacts. The himalayas are made up of three parallel mountain ranges that together stretch for more than 1800 miles 2,900 kilometers.
Climate change is affecting the himalayas more than almost any region in the world. Climate change in the himalayas the himalaya support nearly half of humanity him means snow alaya means mountain. Surveys have been carried out to analyze the current practices and the role of information in planning for climate change adaptation in the rural areas of the nainital region of india located in. That is why this study produced an openaccess, crop climate economic impact modeling platform for latin america and the caribbean. This study attempts to map their distribution in the face of changing climate. It has emerged as the biggest developmental challenge for the planet. The purpose of choosing the himalayas as a focus is because it is a particularly fragile mountain system, highly sensitive to climate change impacts, and it contains one of the largest human populations affected by climate change. Climate change and global warming are melting down glaciers across the himalayas, threatening to unleash deadly floods and expose the bodies of climbers who failed to scale mount. Ignoring climate change in the himalayas the third pole. But global warming is having a dire effect on the glaciers of the. Understanding and anticipating the impacts of climate. Documents and reports bhutan national human development report 2011, the melting himalayas, impact of climate change on himalayan glaciers and glacial lakes in nepal and bhutan, disaster management analysis in bhutan. Climate change and agriculture in latin america, 20202050. Data analysis of different ranges of the western himalaya shows significant variations in temperature and snowfall trends in the past few decades.
Introduction climate change is expected to have a strong impact on water resources, especially in mountain regions buytaert, 2012, and even more so in the himalayas where the rise in temperature. The himalayas, as a great climatic divide affecting large systems of air and water circulation, help determine meteorological conditions in the indian subcontinent to the south. In addition, the impact of climate change is increasing steadily by resulting uncertainties and climate induced extreme events7,21. This paper is a product of the environment and energy team, development research group. While being on the subject of himalayas and the climate change it would be useful to recapitulate the role of the mountain chain in shaping not only the weather of the subcontinent but the. The changing himalayas impact of climate change on water resources and livelihoods in the greater himalayas the greater himalayan region, sometimes called the roof of the world, is noticeably impacted by climate change.
The impacts of climate change are superimposed on a variety of other environmental and social stresses, many already recognised as severe ives and messerli. This book analyzes the issues associated with climate change in the himalayas. The mountains of snow have also been called the third pole, since they are the third largest body of snow on our planet after the antarctic and arctic. If current climate change trends continue, the himalayas could heat up by 8 degrees fahrenheit by the end of the century, researchers said. The state of sikkim in the north eastern part of india also observes similar challenges. Background climate change in the himalayas, a biodiversity hotspot, home of many sacred landscapes, and the source of eight largest rivers of asia, is likely to impact the wellbeing of. Climate changefood security impact mainly through dry season water availability receding glaciers himalayan meltdown rate of warming in the himalayas is more than five times faster than warming globally. Climate change impacts in the terrestrial realm climate change is expected to have a significant influence on terrestrial biodiversity at all system levels ecosystem, species and genetic diversity. Environmentthe basic possible impacts of climate change in the himalayas climate change in the himalayas is a major topic of worry for climate watchers in the subcontinent and across the world. Climate change will cause a third of ice in himalayas and hindu kush to thaw this century, scientists warn. Almost half of the world gets its water from the himalayas and other high mountains, but little is known about how.
The impacts of climate change on agriculture are projected to be significant in coming decades, so response strategies, and their likely costs, should be evaluated now. Since 1960, almost a fifth of the indian himalayas ice coverage has disappeared, and the 2007 globalwarming assessment by the intergovernmental panel on climate change judged that glaciers in the. Climatechange studies in the western himalaya international. The swiss agency for development and cooperation sdc, through its project, indian himalayas climate. Provides concise knowledge on sources and impacts of climate change in the himalayas. This falsecolor image shows snowcapped peaks and ridges of the eastern himalayas between major rivers in southwest china.
Climate change impacts are disproportionate and influence lives and livelihoods variedly. A study of local perceptions and responses basavaraj basannagari, chandra prakash kala ecosystem and environment management, indian institute of forest management, bhopal, madhya pradesh, india. The country is considered a biodiversity hotspot, with nearly a quarter of the land area located in protected areas. Nepal and the surrounding himalayan region are particularly vulnerable to climate change because of their abrupt ecological and climatic transitions. Perspectives from india climate change prewords climate change perspectives from india climate change is no more an environmental concern. The study has a broad coverage of both biophysical and economic impacts of climate change on the himalayas and. The purpose of choosing the himalayas as a focus is because it is a particularly fragile mountain system, highly sensitive to. The himalayas comprise approximately 33,000 sq km of glacierised area and its glaciers are a source of ten of the largest rivers in asia. Himalayan ecosystems to climate change as a result of their ecological fragility and economic marginality.
A comprehensive investigation of the relationships among observed climate variables such as temperature, pressure and rainfall could. Rise in temperatures is threatening the survival of himalayas those in the plains, too, cant be complacent as these mountains are the origins of the rivers that sustain more than half of india. Climate free fulltext the impact of climate change on. Exposure to extreme events is location specific and communities settled in high, mid and low altitudinal regions are. Downstream implications of climate change in the himalayas.
Abstract the remote cold desert stretches of high altitude himalayas, having a fragile ecosystem are. Southwestern tibet, western nepal and northern india where the karnali river flows are no exception. The himalayas popularly known as the third pole and water tower of asia has attracted global attention under the context of climate change as rainfall in this region has decreased. The climate of this region is influenced by the monsoon of south asia from june to september. The impacts of climate change in the himalayas are real.
Livelihoods, gender and climate change in the eastern. Perspectives on water and climate change adaptation 1 the. Almost half of the world gets its water from the himalayas and other high mountains, but little is known about how global. Himalayas are experiencing climate change at an unprecedented rate, this is increasing the incidents of flash floods, glofs, landslides and related disasters. The himalayan glaciers are the water towers of asia, and the source of many of the worlds great rivers.
Modeling the future impacts of climate change on water. Strategy for a regional response the human drama of climate change will largely be played out in asia, where over 60 per cent of the worlds population. Climate change vulnerabilities in the himalayan region. Climate change and himalayan glaciers term paper geography. Climate change food security impact mainly through dry season water availability receding glaciers himalayan meltdown rate of warming in the himalayas is more than five times faster than warming globally. And in the mountain villages in nepal and tibet, the average citizen doesnt have enough of an education to know what a carbon atom looks like. Environmentthe basic possible impacts of climate change in. However, despite the extraordinary environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic importance of the himalayas, and despite their rapidly increasing ecological degradation, not much is known. And thats a serious threat to the 240 million people. The himalayan climate and water atlas, impact of climate change.
There is a link between climate change and mountain. Adaptation to climate change has become imperative in the indian himalayan region ihr. National localisedtibet proposed project aims to assist aspiring scientists, local governments and indigenous peoples in three townships in the diqing tibetan autonomous prefecture in yunnan, china to better understand their vulnerability to. Climate change in the eastern himalayas our knowledge about the impact of climate change on mountain ecosystems is very limited.
Climate change, water resources, and water security. Climate change and water resources in the himalayas. The himalayas have the largest deposits of snow and ice in the world outside the polar regions and is often referred to as the third pole and. Rajiv kumar chaturvedi, indian institute of science, bangalore, india. Climate change is eating the glaciers of the himalayas, posing a grave threat to hundreds of millions of people who live downstream, a study based on 40 years of satellite data has shown.
Reduce uncertainty through downscaling and customizing global climate change scenarios, and developing water availability and demand scenarios for parts of major river. According to a study by indian himalayas climate adaptation programme, of indias 12 himalayan states, assam, mizoram and jammu and kashmir are the most vulnerable to climate change. Climate change in nepal and its impact on himalayan glaciers. Existing observations indicate that the temperature is rising at a higher rate in nepal. Surveys have been carried out to analyze the current practices and the role of information in planning for climate change adaptation in the rural areas of the nainital region of india located in western himalaya. An overview of climate change and its impact on agriculture. Climate change in the himalayas current state of knowledge.
The purpose of choosing the himalayas as a focus is because it is a. Strategy for a regional response the human drama of climate change will largely be played out in asia, where over 60 per cent of the worlds population, around four billion people, live. With the melting of the himalayan glaciers, floods and water scarcity in the mountains and in river plains of india, pakistan and bangladesh, sealevel rise along bangladesh and indian coasts, the next few decades will see an exodus of climate change refugees. Climatechange studies in the western himalaya annals of. Dec 30, 2014 temperatures in the central himalayas increased by about 0. The crux of the matter is that climate change has already hit the himalayas hard, and things are only going to get worse. The work also shows how the special features of indian orography in the western himalaya affect climate change in the long term, changing the pattern of precipitation over the region. Makerere university centre for climate change research and innovation description.
It is widely considered a biodiversity hotspot, with notable biocultural diversity. The changing climate, have a very powerful impact on our daily. The greater himalayan region the roof of the world contains the most extensive and rugged high altitude areas. Widespread climate change in the himalayas and associated. Climate change impacts and vulnerability in the eastern himalayas 1 climate change impacts and vulnerability in the eastern himalayas eklabya sharma, nakul chettri, karma tsering, arun b shrestha, fang jing, pradeep mool and mats eriksson little is known in detail about the vulnerability of mountain ecosystems to climate change. Scientific and faith perspectives, full paper instructions for audio file audio file 5. Climate change and apple farming in indian himalayas. Climate change has been a topic of discussions for long and we always say that climate change has effected out way of life. Climate change in the himalayas poses a serious threat to the source of these great rivers with dire and farreaching impacts on biodiversity, food, water and energy security. With climate change, himalayas future is warmer, not. This study, prepared in close cooperation with and supported by the united nations environment programme regional office for asia and the pacific, investigates the impact of climate change on glaciers and glacial lakes in two major glacial hotspots in the himalayas. The rivers flow transboundary and meet the drinking water, irrigation. Their imposing glaciers provide millions of people in asia with the water they need to live. Climate change will cause a third of ice in himalayas and.
Greater himalayas vanishing glaciers climate change. Exposure to extreme events is location specific and communities settled in high, mid and low altitudinal regions are differentially affected. While the estimates on the total number of glaciers in the himalayas varies, inventories by various institutions suggest that there are well over 5,0006,500 glaciers in the himalayas and above 3000. That is why we have started a participatory process for himalayan communities to engage in the discussion on climate change, including issues of climate justice. Climate change, himalayas, impacts of climate change. Concerns about the growing impacts of climate change call for immediate response measures to reduce the vulnerabilities in the region. With climate change, himalayas future is warmer, not necessarily brighter. The himalayas are made up of three parallel mountain ranges that together. The changing himalayas impact of climate change on water resources and livelihoods in the greater himalayas world water forum perspectives on water and climate change adaptation.
Climate shift linked to rise of himalayas, tibetan plateau. Climate change negatively effecting the future of life in the himalayas. This atlas was developed as part of the himalayan climate change. Livelihoods, gender and climate change in the eastern himalayas. Existing observations indicate that the temperature is rising at a higher rate in nepal and chinese regions of the himalayas compared. This led to the development of the himalayan climate change adaptation programme, which aims to.
Climate change impacts and vulnerability in the eastern himalayas. Climate change in the himalayas, a biodiversity hotspot, home of many sacred landscapes, and the source of eight largest rivers of asia, is likely to impact the wellbeing of. Existing observations indicate that the temperature is rising at a higher rate in nepal and chinese regions of the himalayas compared with rest of the himalayas. Rapid warming in the himalayas regional studies association. Rise in temperatures is threatening the survival of himalayas. Impact of climate change on water resources and livelihoods in the. Respondents perceive the local climate change, the intensity of change, and the negative impacts on the community and landscape. Paper presented at the authors workshop for the regional report on climate change in the hindu kushhimalayas. International climate and environment researchoslo cicero and gridarendal. The eastern himalayas extend from eastern nepal across northeast india, bhutan, the tibet autonomous region to yunnan in china and northern myanmar. But climate change is forcing the melt to happen faster than it used toso it is drawing on their storage tanks, she says, leaving the communities and ecological systems that rely on that. A study of local perceptions and responses basavaraj basannagari, chandra prakash kala ecosystem and environment management, indian. Himalayan glaciers climate change, water resources, and water security figure 1. Climate change will melt a third of the ice in the himalayas even if the goals of the paris climate agreement are met, a new report finds.
1382 1224 1306 138 1481 1257 1661 812 1252 1030 1141 1040 1657 102 1300 549 1034 21 690 1522 528 1073 385 650 643 591 438 1404 771 1048 1637 535 754 1377 637 265 695 927 902 833 1346 1173 488