Resources

• Key findings of the study – Sudan Maharjan, ICIMOD

Background

Glaciers and glacial lakes are major sources of fresh water in the Hindu Kush Himalaya and have important linkages with ecosystem services and livelihoods. Himalayan glaciers are vulnerable to the warming climate and have been melting and retreating at unprecedented rates since the mid-20^th century, impacting flow regimes in major river basins. These changes lead to the formation of new glacial lakes as well as the expansion of existing glacial lakes, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

Historically, GLOFs have had catastrophic consequences in Nepal – directly and through cascading impacts (landslides, erosion, and sedimentation) – leading to the loss of lives and livestock and damaging infrastructure and transportation routes. Twenty-six GLOF events have been recorded in Nepal since 1977, and 11 of these have had transboundary impacts.

Recorded information on GLOF events shows an increment in the frequency and magnitude of these disasters in recent decades. If current warming trends and unchecked developmental activities continue, the occurrence of GLOFs and other glacial hazards could escalate, adversely impacting water availability. However, GLOF risk can be minimized by thoroughly investigating the spatial and temporal development of glacial lakes, identifying potential GLOF risks, and planning systematic and appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures.

Accordingly, ICIMOD and UNDP Nepal have prepared a comprehensive inventory of glacial lakes and identified the potentially dangerous glacial lakes in major river basins of Nepal, including the upper reach of these basins from the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China and India. The research was conducted to support the Green Climate Fund (GCF) project proposal formulation led by UNDP Nepal.

During the event, major research findings will be shared and the research report will be publicly launched.

Tentative programme 

(Moderator: Arun Shrestha, ICIMOD)

For more information:

ICIMOD:

Sudan Bikash Maharjan – sudan.maharjan@icimod.org

Arun Shrestha – arun.shrestha@icimod.org

UNDP:

Deepak KC – deepak.kc@undp.org