How healthy are our ice reserves?

On World Water Day, Sonia Grover and Venkatesh Raghavendra explain how the efforts to save the ice reserves are falling short.

Scenes from Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj are etched in our generational memory. Those who attended and millions of others who watched the spectacle from afar will remember one thing most vividly: the holy dip in the Sangam, at the pious confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati, was the most defining image of the event.

Let us shift the scene to where River Ganga embarks on her epic journey—the majestic, snow-capped Himalayas. The Himalayas, also known as the ‘Water-Towers of Asia,’ are crucial in ensuring the region’s water security. These majestic ranges, home to pristine snowfields and glaciers, do more than define the nation’s natural splendour—they are the lifeline supporting the rivers, ecosystems, and livelihoods of millions across the subcontinent.

As per the Geological Survey of India, there are more than nine thousand glaciers in the Indian Himalayas distributed among the three important river basins—Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra. Almost half of India’s utilisable surface water resources come from these basins, with all three receiving significant contributions from snow and ice melt from the Himalayas.

However, owing to human intervention and increasing climate change, the snow and ice reserves of the Himalayas are melting at an alarming rate. Changes in melt patterns directly impact the river flow patterns and water availability in the river basins, posing a significant challenge to India’s water, energy, and food security. In addition, it also affects regional geopolitics and historic agreements like the Indus Water Treaty.

As glaciers retreat and snowlines shift, significant ramifications are witnessed, which directly impact the stability of the fragile mountain ecosystems and the economic development of the region. We all are experiencing the impacts of climate change, whether directly or indirectly. A recent report stated that apple production in Himachal has fallen due to unseasonally warm temperatures eating into the chilling period needed for these crisp apples. Such joys will be under threat as the entire ecology of the area is impacted by the shifting of snow lines and the timing of snowfall. 

The threat is not only limited to water security. Melting glaciers increase the risk of Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF), glacier avalanches, and landslides. The recent catastrophic event in Sikkim in October 2023 caused a tsunami-like wave, resulting in loss of lives and considerable damage to infrastructure. Similarly, with an increase in such events and changes in river flow, hydropower projects are becoming more vulnerable. These hydrological shifts due to changes in glacier volume and the area will have a larger impact beyond the geographic boundaries of India. They will impact water allocation agreements with neighbours, making the glaciers critical from a national security perspective.

Undeniably, we depend on perennial rivers originating from the Himalayas. India’s reliance on the Himalayas for agriculture, hydropower, and biodiversity underscores the urgency for action. We should be well aware of the status of our cryosphere or the health of the ice reserves.

The recent fourth biennial update report submitted by the Indian Government to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change highlights the retreating status of the glaciers in the country. Climate change is leading to the thinning of the Himalayan glaciers and also causing a reduction in the length and area of the glaciers. Although each glacier’s response to warming temperatures varies significantly, choreographed by a complex interplay of factors like geographical location, altitude, and topography, the overall prognosis for India’s ice reserves is alarming.

In response to these challenges, steps are being taken in the right direction. Efforts are underway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a low-carbon economy. Additionally, government-funded studies to monitor and research Himalayan glaciers to understand their dynamics better, assess their impact on water and other natural resources, and develop climate change adaptation strategies.

All these efforts still fall short, given the scale of the problem. A regional collaborative approach is needed, and measures ought to be designed collectively, barring which every country in the Himalayan region will pay a different price. It is difficult to curb glacier melting and recession without addressing all the contributing factors of global warming and climate change.

The incremental solutions currently in place are inadequate to keep pace with the rate of glacier melting and the ensuing repercussions. The challenge must be addressed comprehensively, incorporating technical measures, regulatory reforms, continuous research, active community participation and heightened awareness. This approach should encompass both mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Community-centric initiatives like promoting sustainable tourism and livelihood play a crucial role in addressing the repercussions of melting glaciers. For instance, an ecotourism group in Spiti offers a range of travel experiences that allow visitors to explore the beauty of Spiti while minimising their environmental impact. This NGO promotes livelihoods for the local community that are linked closely to the conservation of nature and cultural heritage. Rural women-led organisations near Almora, Uttarakhand, actively engage in climate-resilient agricultural practices. Another crucial strategy is promoting afforestation and protecting mountain forests to regulate the regional microclimate.

Another example is the Himalayan Afforestation and Reforestation Project, a brainchild of the Government of Himachal Pradesh, which demonstrates the benefits of such efforts. One of the direct advantages of this project is erosion control and carbon sequestration, which contribute significantly to glacier preservation. Educating communities about the impacts of climate change and the benefits of conservation can foster a collective sense of responsibility and drive more proactive efforts to protect these vital resources.

Side by side, glacier protection should become a key agenda in regional collaborative meetings between heads of state, policymakers, researchers, and grassroots organisations in the Himalayan countries, both on bilateral and multi-lateral occasions.  

The global community also recognises the urgency of this issue. Preserving our Himalayan glaciers ensures that hundreds of millions of people will be enthralled and feel blessed by the holy dip in the Ganges. Our responsibility is to sustain these glaciers for future generations to benefit from and enjoy.

(Dr. Sonia Grover is a hydrology expert who has worked on snow and ice-fed Himalayan basins. Venkatesh Raghavendra is a social entrepreneur working on access to safe and affordable drinking water)