Rapid Himalayan ice melt puts Bangladesh at risk: UN

The United Nations has raised alarms about the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers, warning of severe consequences for Bangladesh and other countries in the region.

A new report, released as part of UNESCO's United Nations World Water Development Report 2025, highlights the catastrophic impact of glacier loss on water security, food production, and biodiversity, reads a press release.

The report was published today (21 March) to mark the first-ever World Glacier Day, an initiative under the UN's International Year of Glacier Preservation.

It warns that unless significant reductions in carbon emissions are made, the consequences of glacier melt will become increasingly severe.

The melting glaciers are expected to disrupt the flow of major rivers such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Teesta, increasing the frequency of devastating floods during monsoons while causing critical water shortages in the dry season.

Currently, 65% of the Brahmaputra's and 70% of the Ganges' dry-season water supply originates from Himalayan glacier melt.

By 2075, flood levels are projected to surge by 51% in the Indus basin, 80% in the Brahmaputra, and 108% in the Ganges due to intensified glacial melt and increased rainfall. In the coming decades, water shortages in northern India and Bangladesh could threaten irrigation networks, hydropower generation, and drinking water supply, severely impacting food and energy security.

According to the report, glaciers in High Mountain Asia have shrunk by 5% to 21% between 2000 and 2023, with the Himalayas experiencing the most significant losses. High Mountain Asia, often called the Third Pole, is the largest ice-covered region outside the Arctic and Antarctic, containing nearly 100,000 glaciers and storing 7,000 cubic kilometres of ice.

These glaciers feed ten major Asian rivers, including the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra, which support a quarter of the world's population. Seasonal meltwater alone meets the basic needs of 220 million people. However, as glacier loss accelerates, river flows will decline dramatically, threatening millions who depend on these water sources.

The UN report underscores that over two billion people depend on mountain water for drinking, sanitation, and agriculture. However, climate change is severely impacting these vital water sources, endangering irrigation systems, food production, and economic livelihoods.

"Regardless of where we live, we all depend in some way on mountains and glaciers. But these essential natural water towers are in imminent peril," said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO. "This report highlights the urgent need for global action."

Alvaro Lario, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Chair of UN-Water, stressed the importance of supporting mountain communities.

"Water flows downhill, but food insecurity rises uphill. The earth's mountains provide 60% of our freshwater, but the communities safeguarding these vital resources are among the most food insecure. We must invest in their resilience to protect glaciers, rivers, and our shared future," he said.