Are the Himalayan glaciers at a tipping point?

The Himalayan glaciers are melting more rapidly as global temperatures rise, raising concerns about the future of ecosystems and communities across the Himalayan mountain range. Glaciers store more than two thirds of the world’s freshwater and help regulate global temperatures by reflecting the sun’s rays.

Across South Asia, melting ice is contributing to the formation of unstable glacial lakes and increasing the risks of floods, droughts and avalanches. The Himalayas are a vital source of water for millions of people, supporting agriculture, energy production and livelihoods from tourism.

Experts warn that continued glacier loss could have significant consequences for people living in the region and the mountainous ecosystem, but what can be done to respond to these changes?

Contributors:
Pasang Yangjee Sherpa, assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, Canada
Pam Pearson, director and founder of the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, US
Matthias Huss, glaciologist and senior scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland
Alton Byers, faculty research scientist at the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado, US

Presenter: Tanya Beckett
Producer: Matt Toulson
Researchers: Evie Yabsley and Amelia Cox
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Technical Producer: Mitch Goodall
Production Management: Phoebe Lomas and Liam Morrey

(Photo: Trekkers walk to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Credit: Kriangkrai Thitimakorn/Getty Images)