Melting and falling glaciers are the real threat to serious environmental degradation with catastrophe in the offing

HIMANSHU UPADHYAYA
The Himalayan glaciers are an indispensable and vital part of the region’s ecosystem,
serving as a lifeline for millions by feeding major river systems such as the Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra. The agriculture — the main stay of our economy has sustained and
thrived for centuries due to these river. In fact, centuries ago the entire Indus Valley civilization flourished because these river systems were there as a source of drinking water, and in modern times they are key driver of hydropower not just for India but entire across South Asia.

These Himalayan Glaciers which are spread across Hindu Kush Himalayan Mountain Range is also called the world’s third pole because the snow and ice in these mountain regions is the largest source of fresh water outside the polar regions.

The water that is sourced from these glaciers is vital for 2 billion people who live
Downstream of the major rivers that originate in these ranges. Beyond that, the glaciers
help keep the region’s climate in check and support a rich variety of plant and animal life.
But with rising temperatures and increasing pollution, they’re shrinking faster than ever—
putting the environment, people’s livelihoods, and even regional stability at serious risk.
Increasing temperature along with air pollution mainly accumulated black carbon aerosols
and changing precipitation patterns are the prime suspects in the melting of Himalayan
glaciers. In the Himalayan region and Himalaya influenced plains, the average temperature is rising faster than global temperature at a rate of 0.06 °C per year and the present projections predicts that a global temperature rise of 1.5 °C will lead to a warming of 2.1± 0.1 °C in the region of Himalayan Glaciers, and that only ‘64± 7% of the present day ice mass stored in high mountains of Asian glaciers will remain by the
end of Century. Himalayan glaciers are thinning at the rate of 0.3 – 1m/year, which is faster than the world average.
While major factor of rising temperature is pollution—particularly black carbon aerosols—is also accelerating glacial melt. Black carbon, primarily emitted from vehicular emissions,
industrial activity, and biomass burning, settles on snow and ice, reducing their reflectivity albedo) and increasing heat absorption. Research by the International Centre for
Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) indicates that black carbon deposits can
increase glacial melt rates by up to 50%.
The loss of thick layers of snow on the world’s tallest mountains pose huge danger to
humanity and unfortunately this ice melt is unprecedented and largely irreversible. The
shrinkage of glaciers due to the ice melt can lead to formation of Glacial lakes and those
Glacier Lakes can actually burst to cause massive flash floods. The Himalayan region has more than 25000 such Glacial lakes and among them more than 200 are categorized as
potentially dangerous lakes and any if any of them bursts out, it can cause huge damage
to infrastructure settlements and ultimately affect people and livelihood and not just of
our country but across the south Asian region. We have witnesses some of the worst
floods in recent times not just in India but in neighbouring countries as well. One of the
glacial lake burst in Sikkim in October 2023, when the South Lhonak Lake in North Sikkim
breached, it destroyed the 1,200 MW Teesta III dam in Chungthang, Sikkim and caused
widespread devastation downstream. The disaster directly affected 100,000 people,
claiming 40 lives.
Apart from the flash floods, they also cause erratic rainfall which further adds to the
misery of the people. These floods, crop failure and unexpected rainfall brings cornucopia
of complex, extreme risks across the entire region.
Melting glacier are destabilizing the landscape and rising the risk of floods and landslides.
The rapid changes are ultimately effecting the wildlife and precious habitats. India, Nepal
and other Dozens of countries within the region or in the river valley downstream depend
on melting ice and snow for their water supply.
Despite three decades of climate action, global carbon emissions have increased by 20-
40% rather than declining. Even ambitious pledges, such as India’s goal of achieving
carbon neutrality by 2070, may prove insufficient given the scale of the crisis. The
fundamental issue is not just industrial emissions but the relentless human pursuit of
consumption.

Green technologies, while beneficial, often create a false sense of progress. For example,
more energy-efficient appliances or electric vehicles may reduce individual carbon
footprints but often lead to increase consumption overall. A household that once had a single air conditioner now installs multiple units because they are more efficient, thereby negating the benefits. Similarly, while electric vehicles reduce dependence on fossil fuels, their production and battery disposal have environmental consequences. This paradox illustrates that technological advancements alone cannot solve the problem unless human behavior fundamentally changes.
Initially the melting glaciers increase the flow of water in Ganga River, but in long time as
Glaciers continue to reduce, it will decrease the river’s water supply. Ganotri glaciers as
per report is 30 km longs, the second biggest in Himalayas its recent decelerated inrecent years to 10 mtrs (22 feet) per year which is a serious fallout. Strategically it is impatient to know future water and plan for safety and security of people downstream.

The glaciers significantly influence the environmental, social and economic realms of
region. The rivers like Ganga, Bramputra are being threatened due to melting of
Himalayan glaciers, which will effect the health and livelihood of billions of people in area and will result into scarcity of water. We all have enjoyed and worships the holy river during Mahakunbh at Allahabad and if the impact on Himalaya glaciers will be same, then it is predicted to be last Mahakumbh at Triveni.
The retreat of glaciers is a cause of concern and have for reaching challenges due to
adverse effect on water resources, ecosystem, agriculture hydropower in India. The future
of humanity and natural system of Himalayan region is closely tied to the fate of the
Himalayan glaciers.

At its core, climate change is not merely an environmental issue—it is a philosophical and
existential challenge. The modern economic system equates success with material wealth,
leading to endless cycles of production and consumption. Unless societies redefine
progress beyond GDP growth, global warming and environmental degradation will
continue. Human civilization has reached to a critical juncture where action must go beyond superficial policies and technological fixes. It requires a fundamental transformation in values, priorities, and behaviors.

The United Nations has declared 2025 as International year of Glacier preservation.
Recently Mr. Wangchuk took the snow to UN office at Delhi to send the message and
finding the support globally of glacial ice melting and effect of climate change.
Glacial lakes and other water bodies across the Himalayan region saw 10.8/% increase
in area from 2011 to 2024 due to climate change, signaling a heightened risk of glacial
lake outburst floods, according a Government report. Indian space Research Organization,
ISRO long term satellite imagery also reflects to significant changes in glacial lake of India
Himalayan River Basins from the year 1984 to 2023. The report published from Kathmandu based international Centre for integrated mountain Development warned that flash floods and a valances would grow more likely in the coming years and the availability of fresh water would be curtained for nearly 2 billion people who live downstream of 12 rivers that originate in the mountain.

The saint being interpreter of Holy books, public organizations may come raise alarms in
India and globally the various institution also working to aware society at large, but if
steps are not taken to restore these glaciers which are the source of our perennial rivers
like holy Ganga.

A forests play a part in ensuring that the surrounding climate is maintained, making an
effort to conserve forests or even replant thus could help to ensure throughout the
Himalayan region and ultimately prevent glaciers from melting.

The fate of the Himalayan glaciers is intricately linked to the future of billions of people. If
urgent measures are not taken, the consequences will be irreversible, affecting water security, agriculture, biodiversity, and regional stability. The time is to act now—before the Himalayas, once revered as the “Water Tower of Asia,” become a symbol of human inaction and ecological collapse.

WRITER HIMANSHU UPADHYAY IS A SUPREME COURT ADVOCATE RESIDING IN DELHI.