Cryosphere in Crisis : The Himalayas are Melting and So is Our Future

"144 years from now, the Maha Kumbh will be held on dry land. The sacred rivers that sustain millions will be gone."

This is not a prophecy. It is a warning from Sonam Wangchuk, the renowned environmentalist from Ladakh, in his open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Carrying a block of glacial ice to the United Nations, he made an urgent plea: The Himalayas are melting, and with them, the future of over a billion people is slipping away.

A Crisis Beyond Borders

The world’s cryosphere, which is the frozen water systems of our planet, is in crisis. From Svalbard to the Andes, from the Alps to the Himalayas, glaciers are retreating at an alarming rate. According to the Norwegian Polar Institute, Svalbard, one of the world’s fastest-warming regions, has already lost significant ice mass, accelerating sea level rise. The Alps are losing 3-4% of their ice every year, with a 2023 report from the Swiss Academy of Sciences predicting that by 2100, only a fraction of these glaciers will remain. The Andes, too, are witnessing catastrophic glacier loss, threatening water supplies for cities like Lima, Peru, as documented by the World Glacier Monitoring Service.

But unlike Svalbard or the Alps, the Himalayas are not just a natural wonder- they are a lifeline.

Ladakh: A Warning from the Third Pole

Standing in Leh last winter, I listened as locals spoke about the shifting seasons.

"Pehle December tak baraf gir jaati thi, ab toh bas intezaar hi rehta hai.” (Earlier, we would see snow by December, but now, we just keep waiting.)

For the past two years, snowfall in Ladakh has been delayed by months. December and January, once marked by thick blankets of snow, have remained eerily dry. Instead, snow now falls in February or March, disrupting traditional water storage systems. According to the ICIMOD Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment Report, the region has already lost nearly a quarter of its ice since 1975, and melting is accelerating.

It’s easy to think of climate change as an abstract, far-off crisis. But here, in glacier-fed cities like Leh, it is reshaping lives in real-time. Communities that once relied on slow-melting glaciers and spring-fed channels now face water scarcity when they need it most. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) estimates that over 50 million people depend on Himalayan springs for drinking water, but many of these sources are drying up. The delicate balance that sustained communities for generations is unraveling.

What’s Happening in the Himalayas?

The warning signs are clear!

Glaciers are shrinking at an alarming rate. The HIMAP reports that the region could lose up to two-thirds of its glaciers by 2100 if current emissions continue. Melting ice initially increases river flows, but this is a short-lived effect. In the long run, reduced glacial mass leads to severe water shortages.

Erratic snowfall and rainfall patterns are worsening. Delayed snowfall disrupts traditional water storage, while unseasonal rain triggers landslides and flash floods. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of India warns that glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) are becoming more frequent, endangering thousands of downstream communities.

Lessons from Glacier-Fed Cities Worldwide

Can we adapt to this new reality? Other regions facing similar challenges are already finding solutions!

In Switzerland, scientists are covering glaciers with blankets to slow melting. According to the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research, this technique has been effective in reducing ice loss by up to 60% in test areas. In Peru, communities are painting mountain peaks white to reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption. The Andean Glacier Monitoring Project reports that this has shown promise in slowing localized glacial retreat. In Norway, a combination of traditional snow farming and modern water conservation techniques is helping maintain year-round water supply, as documented by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate.

These may sound like futuristic interventions, but they highlight an essential truth- we cannot wait for the glaciers to vanish before taking action.

What Can Be Done in the Himalayas?

At BORDA South Asia, we have been working with LEDeG in Ladakh to understand and strengthen local water resilience. Through partnerships and research, we’ve seen firsthand that solutions exist, but they need urgent scaling.

Strengthening traditional wisdom is key. Glacier-fed communities have survived for centuries through innovative water management, from Ladakh’s ice stupas to traditional zings (water reservoirs). Scaling up these nature-based solutions can help mitigate the crisis.

Rejuvenating springs and decentralized water systems must become a policy priority. According to the NITI Aayog’s 2018 report on the Himalayan Water Crisis, over half of India’s natural springs are drying up, making community-led water conservation efforts critical.

Rethinking development and infrastructure is essential. Unchecked infrastructure projects, deforestation, and over-tourism are accelerating the crisis. Sustainable urban planning and climate-resilient policies must be integrated into governance.

Stronger policies and cross-border coordination are non-negotiable. Since Himalayan rivers cross multiple countries, a coordinated effort is crucial. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) emphasizes that international cooperation on water security and climate adaptation must be at the forefront of diplomatic efforts.

A Future We Can Still Save

Without protecting the Himalayas, achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047 is impossible. The cascading risks such as water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and increased disasters demand urgent, collective action. Strengthening local resilience, integrating traditional knowledge with modern solutions, and enforcing stronger environmental protections can help secure this vital ecosystem before it’s too late.

The cryosphere is in crisis, but our response to it will define the future of water security for generations to come.

Are we listening? The time to act is now!

References: