Are the Himalayan glaciers at a tipping point?

About this episode

The episode discusses the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers and its implications for ecosystems and communities in the region.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Tanya Beckett

Guests: Pasang Yangjee Sherpa, Pam Pearson, Matthias Huss, Alton Byers

Topics covered

• Himalayan glaciers
• climate change
• environmental impact
• water resources
• ecosystems
• natural disasters

Keywords

• Himalayan glaciers
• melting ice
• climate change
• glacial lakes
• flood risks
• water supply
• South Asia

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of British Columbia, International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado

Places: Himalayan mountain range, South Asia, Nepal

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