Imja Tsho glacial lake in the Everest region, Nepal (Image by NASA 2010)
While there may be a debate about whether climate change is real in the US political landscape, climate change is a reality for many living in the Nepal Himalaya. The draining of Imja Tsho glacial lake located at 5000m in the Everest region of Nepal is one such example. According to the BBC, the Nepal Army and local people with the financial support of United Nations dug an outlet to drain 4 million cubic meters of water from Imja lake that threatened to flood settlements, trails and bridges. Interestingly, Imja lake did not exist before 1960’s but by 2009 rapidly melting glacier due to increase in global temperature rise made it one of the most dangerous lakes in terms of glacial lake outburst floods.
Imja is only one among 1,600 glacial lakes that exists in Nepal and dozens of them are increasingly hazardous as the glaciers retreat. Ten have already burst causing loss of human lives and property in the surrounding vicinity. On the other hand, temporary increase in flow of water from glacier melt coupled with reduced snowfall means that billions of people living downstream, from China to Vietnam, are going to be affected by the deficit of water in the long term as they depend on glacier fed rivers for agriculture and hydropower.
Nepal emits less than 0.15 percent of global greenhouse gas and is one of the lowest emitters in the world, yet it ranks in the top 4 most vulnerable countries at extreme risk of climate change catastrophe (Maplecroft climate change vulnerability index). Countries like Nepal are on the front lines of the climate change effects. We have to cope with front line climate change consequences and at the same time work in our localities and globally to mitigate the long term effect. Every bit counts. From recycling to supporting regenerative agriculture to creating environment for pedestrian and bicycle friendly cities to supporting organizations and policy makers that work in the arena of climate change. Now more than ever, when disinformation is so prevalent, we must remain vigilant and speak about dire consequences of climate change and support those already facing and fighting those consequences. Combating climate change is a moral issue, it is a human issue. We are all in it together.