Experts warn of growing glacier-related disasters

Over 13,000 glaciers face rising threats; rapid glacier melt threatens northern regions

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan must take urgent and decisive action to curb the accelerating melt of glaciers in its northern mountainous regions by strengthening monitoring systems, improving policy implementation, and expanding community-based adaptation measures, experts warned during a high-level consultation held in the federal capital.

The consultation, titled "Glacier Adaptation Plan for Gilgit-Baltistan" and organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), brought together government officials, researchers, and civil society representatives.

Participants collectively called for the declaration of a "glacial emergency" in the country's northern areas and urged the promotion of environmentally responsible tourism to reduce carbon emissions contributing to glacial retreat.

Zakir Hussain, Director-General of the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority, highlighted the region's growing vulnerability to flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), and landslides. He emphasised the need to align climate adaptation strategies with disaster risk reduction efforts.

While noting progress in awareness campaigns, simulation exercises, and early warning systems, he acknowledged that only a fraction of the vast region is currently covered by such measures.

Experts underscored that climate change impacts have intensified significantly since 2022, accelerating glacier loss across the high mountain ranges of the Hindukush–Karakoram–Himalaya (HKH) region—often referred to as the "Third Pole" due to its vast freshwater reserves. Projections indicate glacier mass could decline by up to 57 per cent by the end of the century under high-emission scenarios.

Speakers also stressed the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge into scientific frameworks and called for legal protections for glaciers, drawing parallels with international models.