Himalayan glaciers are melting 65% faster than a decade ago

Between 2011 and 2020, the glaciers in the Himalayas melted at a rate 65% faster than in previous decades, a change attributed to climate change. If the trend continues, glaciers could lose up to 80% of their volume by the end of the century, affecting the water supply of nearly two billion people.

This was reported by ScienceAlert, citing an International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) report.

"As it gets warmer, ice melts - that's expected. But what's unexpected and very worrying is the speed at which it's disappearing. The process is happening much faster than we thought," said Philippus Wester, lead study author.

The water supply of people in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, China, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan depends on the Himalayan glaciers. Mountain ice feeds ten major rivers in the region, including the Ganges, Indus, Yangtze, Mekong, and Irrawaddy, and provides millions of families with food, energy and income, as well as (clean air).