Action Area A

Managing cryosphere and water risks

The mountains of the Hindu Kush Himalaya hold the third largest store of snow and ice after the poles. The cryosphere here is vital for the water and food security of 2 billion people in Asia. But global temperature rise is causing glaciers and snow-pack to shrink at an unprecedented rate. Climate-driven disasters, especially floods, are already resulting in catastrophic losses – of lives, property, heritage and infrastructure – across the region, and the thawing of permafrost is accelerating. ICIMOD’s cryosphere and water risks team works with partners throughout the Hindu Kush Himalaya to generate data, inform national policies and regional strategies, and to improve water management.