The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers, highlighting severe consequences for countries in the region, including Bangladesh. A new report cautions that without significant reductions in carbon emissions, the impact of glacier loss will be catastrophic.
Beyond record monsoon floods, major rivers such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Teesta face critical water shortages during dry seasons, endangering biodiversity and food security. The findings were published in UNESCO’s United Nations World Water Development Report 2025 on March 21, coinciding with the first-ever observance of World Glacier Day. This initiative is part of the UN’s International Year of Glacier Preservation.
According to the report, glaciers in High Mountain Asia have shrunk by 5% to 21% between 2000 and 2023 due to human-induced climate change, with the Himalayan region experiencing the most significant losses. The continued retreat of glaciers is expected to disrupt river flows, particularly during dry periods. Currently, 65% of the Brahmaputra’s and 70% of the Ganges’ dry-season flow depends on Himalayan glacier meltwater. Similarly, 41% of the Indus River’s annual upstream flow in Pakistan comes from glacial meltwater.
The report warns of rising flood risks, particularly in the Ganges and Indus basins. Without drastic emissions cuts, extreme flooding could worsen in the coming decades. By 2075, flood levels could surge by 51% in the Indus basin, 80% in the Brahmaputra, and 108% in the Ganges due to intensified rainfall and glacial melt.
The Hindu Kush Himalayas serve as the source of ten major Asian rivers, including the Indus, Brahmaputra, and Ganges. The UN urges immediate climate action to mitigate the cascading effects of glacier loss on water resources, ecosystems, and millions of people dependent on these rivers.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
