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Urgent action needed to save Hindu Kush Himalaya, the world’s ‘water tower’
- Low snow levels and an alarming glacial melt rate amid an Asian heatwave underline the need for countries to collaborate in climate action
Another recent ICIMOD study confirms the region is undergoing unprecedented, and likely to be irreversible, change. Glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, and based on current projections, scientists predict that two-thirds may disappear by the end of the century. The 79 glaciers that surround Mount Everest, for example, have thinned by over 100m in just six decades, and the rate of thinning has nearly doubled since 2009.
Regional collaboration is imperative in dealing with this crisis. Natural disasters caused by climate change are increasing in frequency and intensity, and disproportionately affect populations suffering from poverty and deprivation. National boundaries cannot protect the countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya from these, irrespective of where events may have originated.
Moreover, natural disasters such as flooding or extended warm weather are often followed by the spread of water or airborne diseases.
Countries in South Asia previously made efforts to present a common position on climate change, at the Cop16 UN climate conference in 2010. Countries from the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) had adopted an action plan for climate change, which listed several measures to deal with the challenge. Despite this initial promise, many agreed measures remain unimplemented.
Nevertheless, initiatives such as adaptation research centres and regional technology innovation networks show a willingness to address shared challenges. Revitalising this collaborative spirit is more crucial than ever.
Net zero therefore is a balance sheet concept that hides the uncertainties and even improbabilities of climate action. The largest natural carbon sinks are our forests and our oceans, both of which are being destroyed by rampant deforestation and waste dumping.
Political boundaries, territorial disputes and mutual suspicions are hindering regional cooperation. National security concerns often restrict vital data-sharing on water-induced disasters and glacial flood outbursts. But sharing such data can save lives and enhance regional cooperation.
Leaders and citizens must recognise that the fallout from the ecological crisis will far eclipse many of the divisive issues which currently demand our attention, while regional collaboration can yield significant environmental and economic benefits.
The region’s ecological challenges necessitate an urgent call for regional collaboration. By working together, sharing knowledge and empowering institutions such as ICIMOD, countries can tackle climate change, protect shared natural assets and ensure a sustainable future for all. Embracing a unified approach to these transboundary issues is not just beneficial but essential for the region’s survival and prosperity.
Shyam Saran served as India’s foreign secretary from 2004 to 2006 and the prime minister’s special envoy for and chief negotiator on climate change from 2007 to 2010. He chaired India’s National Security Advisory Board under the National Security Council between 2013 and 2015
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