The Himalayas in the eye of Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities

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Godwin Clifford Horton
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1 The Himalayas in the eye of Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities David Molden and Madhav Karki International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development Kathmandu, Nepal

2 Largest reserve of snow and ice outside the polar regions (approximate area: 60,000 sq. km) The Hindu Kush-Himalaya region

3 The HKH, The Third Pole, unique cryosphere and high altitude wetlands Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

Hotspot for climate change: vital resources and growing vulnerabilities The third pole on earth - an area of extraordinary beauty and a world heritage site for biodiversity Himalayan glaciers

4 Hotspot for climate change: vital resources and growing vulnerabilities The third pole on earth - an area of extraordinary beauty and a world heritage site for biodiversity Himalayan glaciers are sources of freshwater reserves providing headwaters for 10 major river systems in Asia a lifeline for almost one third of humanity Ecological buffer between the Tibetan Plateau and South Asia

The HKH Glacier Area Coverage (sq km) Afghanistan - 2,677 Bhutan - 680 China/TAR 29,529

5 The HKH Glacier Area Coverage (sq km) Afghanistan - 2,677 Bhutan China/TAR 29,529 India 12,296 Myanmar - 24 Nepal - 4,213 Pakistan 10,994 Total - 60,411 Bajracharya et al. (2010)

6 Ten major river basins of Asia 210 million people in the HKH 1.3 billion people downstream

7 Climate Change Impacts Warming: the rate of warming in the region is more than five times faster than warming globally," (Lau et al, NASA, 2006); Glacier and snow melt accelerated Changing habitat for high-elevation plants and animals Increased occurrence of floods and droughts Availability of water for irrigation, drinking and ecosystems changing Potential impacts on agriculture and ecosystems

8 Climate Change impacts on human well being

9 Impact of Climate Change - Imja Glacier, Nepal 1956 photograph of Imja glacier (Photo: Fritz Muller; courtesy of Jack Ives) 2006 photograph of Imja glacier (Photo: Giovanni Kappenberger courtesy of Alton C Byers)

10 Glacial hazards: glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF)

11 Changes in runoff over time: Seasonal and long term High Uncertainty, Limited Baseline Information (redrawn from Kaser, unpublished)

12 Climate Change impact on ecosystems All scenarios suggest a large change in natural vegetation Change in species composition with probable increased occurrence of invasive species Due to negative balance between precipitation and evapotraspiration, adverse impact on productivity of agriculture and livestock sectors

13 Climate Change Impacts 5 Responses

14 1. Fill Knowledge Gaps Glacial mass balance Role of different cryospheric components on hydrology Role of black carbon aerosol on glacier melting Downstream impacts and responses

15 2. Adaptation and Resilience Building Bridge between knowledge and policy/practice Local solutions for global problems (eg green or low carbon economy) Improved value chains for high valued products Minimize risk and uncertainties for more resilient agriculture and ecosystems

16 Adaptation Too Little Water Situation Example Technological Innovations Increasing infiltration INCREASING AVAILABILITY Water harvesting Drinking Water supply IMPROVING WATER ACCESS & USE Irrigation methods Eye brow pits Fish pond Spring box Drip irrigation Sprinkler irrigation Contour hedgerows Conservation pond Roof water harvesting Pitcher irrigation Terracing Plastic line pond Water collection in spring Improved water practices

17 3. Foster Collaboration across borders Indus Basin Kosi Basin Abu Dabi Dialogue and South Asia Water Initiative

18 River Basin & Transect Approaches

Intervention Levels in Transect and River Basin Approaches REGIONAL ENABLING FRAMEWORKS FOR SCIENTIFIC / TECHNICAL COOPERATION 1 st Level Transboundary Broker and Facilitator / Regional Platform

19 Intervention Levels in Transect and River Basin Approaches REGIONAL ENABLING FRAMEWORKS FOR SCIENTIFIC / TECHNICAL COOPERATION 1 st Level Transboundary Broker and Facilitator / Regional Platform Research Institutions, Academia STRATEGIC/POLICY ENABLING 2 nd Level Applied Research / Policies /Stakeholder Priorities Government Agencies, Planners, Policy Makers, Local government, Community organizations PRACTICAL ACTION / IMPLEMENTATION 3 rd Level Directly Related to Development Activities Planners/Policy Makers/ Practitioners Development projects, NGOs, Resilient Communities

20 4. Capacity Building and Communication Training to meet new needs: flood risk management, data management, forecasting Common protocol for data collection and telemetry Institutional strengthening for more adaptive capacity Data dissemination, public awareness, sensitizing

21 5. Global exchange of mountain knowledge :

22 Thank you

23 Thank you 1. Fill Knowledge Gaps 2. Build Adaptive Capacity 3. Foster Collaboration across Borders 4. Build Capacity 5. Global Exchange of Mountain

Regional Cooperation for Flood Disaster Mitigation in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region

Regional Cooperation for Flood Disaster Mitigation in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development Khumaltar, Lalitpur, P.O. Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: