Glaciers play a critical role in sustaining ecosystems and supporting livelihoods, particularly through the provision of fresh water. However, climate change, primarily driven by human activity, is accelerating glacier melt. Over the past twenty years, the global glacial mass has decreased significantly, with the fastest losses happening in five of the last six years. Scientific studies confirm that 2022 to 2024 saw the largest three-year loss of glacier mass on record. At this rate, up to 80 percent of the Earth’s glacial volume could disappear by 2100.
Already, glacial melt is disrupting ecosystems, destabilizing local communities, destroying species’ habitats, and threatening biodiversity, particularly in mountain and riverine regions. Coastal communities are also affected, as melting glaciers contribute to rising sea levels.
In South Asia, the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region is often referred to as the world’s “Third Pole” due to its extensive glacial coverage—the largest outside the polar regions. Spanning eight countries—from Afghanistan and Pakistan in the west to Myanmar in the east—the HKH region, source of ten of Asia’s largest rivers, serves as the world’s largest water tower.
Today, rapid glacial retreat has exposed the HKH as one of the most vulnerable regions, resulting in frequent environmental disasters, including flash floods, cloudbursts, landslides, prolonged heatwaves, and droughts. Recent catastrophic events in Pakistan and India have been linked to this phenomenon.
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The situation in Pakistan, the planet’s most glaciated country with over 7,000 glaciers, is particularly alarming. In northern mountain ecosystems, forests help maintain lower temperatures and prevent soil erosion, serving the dual purpose of slowing glacial melt and reducing landslide risk. With forest cover at just 5.1 percent compared to 31 percent globally, Pakistan faces acute challenges in protecting its glaciers and safeguarding its environment, economy, and vulnerable communities. Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are a major concern. Water released from melting glaciers often forms lakes in mountainous regions, many of which are unstable. There are more than 3,000 such lakes in this seismically active region, with 33 considered high-risk; their sudden bursting could inflict severe economic and human losses on over seven million people living nearby.
Downstream communities are equally at risk, as Pakistan’s irrigation network depends heavily on glacier-fed rivers. The Indus River basin is particularly exposed, with unpredictable water flows undermining both the country’s ecology and economy.
What measures can stabilize glaciers and protect vulnerable communities?
Controlling global warming must be the foremost priority to prevent further glacial loss. However, with the Paris Agreement struggling to remain on track, a quick solution seems unlikely. Vulnerable regions and countries must therefore focus on building resilience and implementing strategies to minimize the devastating impact of GLOFs and other extreme weather events. Forestation, particularly in mountain ranges, can help lower temperatures and stabilize soils against erosion.
In Pakistan, protecting its limited green cover must be a top priority. Reports indicate that illegal logging of conifers in northern regions has caused large-scale deforestation. Continued denudation of mountain slopes will raise temperatures further and accelerate glacier shrinkage.
Safeguarding local communities from GLOF risks is equally urgent. Mitigation measures include installing early warning systems, constructing gabion walls, check-dams, and irrigation channels to divert floodwaters. Promoting indigenous practices, such as glacier grafting, is also critical. However, these measures will only be effective if local bodies are empowered and consulted at all stages, from design to approval and implementation.
The melting Third Pole sends a warning to the entire HKH region, as its impact transcends national borders. Countries in the region must prioritize collaboration over politics to address shared climate and environmental challenges. Reviving and reforming regional platforms for real-time data-sharing and early warning systems will help reduce risks for vulnerable communities and serve as a confidence-building measure for impactful climate action in South Asia.
The author is the Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the United Nations Environment Programme. This article was originally published in Dawn, Pakistan.
