Himalayan Glaciers Melting at Double the Rate Since 2000, Threatening Two Billion People, New Study Finds

Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region are melting at an accelerated rate due to rising global temperatures caused by climate change. The latest study reveals that the rate of ice melt in this region has doubled since the year 2000.

According to the recent report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), glaciers have thinned by up to 27 meters since 1975. This signals a danger for nearly two billion people in downstream areas who depend on the water flowing from the 'Water Towers of Asia'.

The reports present the most detailed evidence to date of glacial changes occurring in this region. The reports, titled 'The Changing Dynamics of Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya from 1990 to 2020' and 'The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Glacier Outlook 2026: Insights from 50 Years of Glacier Monitoring', were released by ICIMOD on Saturday on the occasion of World Glacier Day.

The Hindu Kush Himalaya holds the largest amount of ice outside the polar regions, with over 63,700 glaciers covering an area of approximately 55,782 square kilometers. These glaciers are the source of at least 10 major river systems in Asia, supporting the food, water, energy, and livelihood security of billions of people.

The report notes that about 78 percent of the glacial area, located at altitudes between 4,500 and 6,000 meters above sea level, is at 'high risk from rising temperatures based on altitude'. ICIMOD Director General Pema Gyamtso stated, "This is not a distant problem; it is a real crisis manifesting as a new disaster every summer and monsoon. The doubling of the ice melt rate this century should shock us all and inspire action. The Hindu Kush Himalaya is at a crossroads. The rapidly increasing impacts, from water uncertainty to devastating floods, make it clear that we are in a decisive decade for the cryosphere. We must increase monitoring and invest in adaptation now. These unexpected events starting from 'blind spots' are not new; this is our new reality."

12 Percent Loss in Glacial Area

Detailed analysis shows that between 1990 and 2020, glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya lost about 12 percent of their total area and nine percent of their estimated ice volume. According to Sudan Bikash Maharjan, Remote Sensing Analyst at ICIMOD and lead author of the Glacier Dynamics Report, the most immediate threat comes from the smaller glaciers in the region.

Analyst Maharjan said, "Although glaciers lost about 12 percent of their total area between 1990 and 2020, this loss is most intense in glaciers smaller than 0.5 square kilometers. This poses an immediate risk of local water scarcity for high-mountain communities and accelerates dangers like Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). The danger is further heightened as three-quarters of the glaciers in this region are in this vulnerable size range."

The HKH Glacier Outlook report compiled data from 38 monitored glaciers, showing widespread ice loss since 2000. This indicates that some parts of the Himalayan cryosphere are approaching a 'tipping point' towards irreversible devastation. However, the report also highlighted a major gap in the data: only seven of the 38 monitored glaciers met the global benchmark standards of the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS). Major glacial regions like the Karakoram, Sikkim, Zanskar, and Bhutan are still outside the scope of monitoring.

Mohammad Farooq Azam, Cryosphere Specialist at ICIMOD and one of the report's authors, said, "We are moving towards a rapidly changing future with the help of an incomplete map. A large part of the Himalayas is still beyond monitoring reach. It is difficult to detect rapid changes in water flow and the cryosphere without expanding the monitoring network and standardizing methodologies. Continuous monitoring of representative glaciers like 'Mera' and 'Rikha Samba' in Nepal, and Chhota Shigri in India, is crucial; they are our 'early warning' indicators for the entire mountain system."

Greatest Loss in Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra Basins

The report showed that glacial loss varies geographically. The Eastern 'Hengduan Shan' mountain range showed the highest percentage loss, with some areas losing up to 33 percent of their glacial area in just three decades. However, the largest losses are concentrated in the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra basins, where over 74 percent of the region's glaciers are located.

Glaciers larger than ten square kilometers account for about 40 percent of the region's natural water storage. The Karakoram mountain range, home to 18 of the 25 largest glaciers, is at high risk regarding long-term water, food, and disaster security, which will impact the entire region.

In the context of 2025 being declared the 'International Year of Glaciers' and 2025–2034 as the 'Decade of Science for the Cryosphere', these findings serve as a serious reminder of the urgent need for action. The report's authors called for expanding the scope of glacier monitoring, strengthening methodologies, and making significant investments in climate-resilient adaptation plans to mitigate the impact of the rapidly changing cryosphere.

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region spans 3,500 kilometers across Asia, encompassing Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Covering high mountain ranges, mid-hills, and plains, this region is vital for the food, water, and energy security of nearly two billion people. It is also home to countless irreplaceable species. The region is extremely vulnerable and at high risk from the 'triple planetary crisis' of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.