Melting Glaciers a Cause for Alarm

The rapid pace of melting glaciers in Kashmir is alarming.

The Kolahoi Glacier is one of the largest in Kashmir, situated around 5,000 metres above sea level. It is the source for the Lidder River, an essential water source which also feeds into the Jhelum River. 

Studies estimate a loss of 23% in area of the glacier from 1962 to 2018. The mean annual temperature in the Kolahoi Glacier region has risen from 9.1°C in the 1980s to 10.3°C in the 2000s. The glacial ice has therefore been reducing around 48 m² each year, resulting in a total loss of 13.63 km² from 1979 to 2016.

Glaciers are a lifeline for Kashmir, providing irrigation, drinking water, and beautiful trekking destinations. In a region so heavily reliant on water, the impact of climate change on glaciers has the potential to be drastic. Summers are too warm, and winters are not cold enough, to support glacial ice.

These changes are especially harmful to a region like Kashmir, where there is a reliance on hydroelectric power, which requires consistent flow in the Jhelum basin. Additionally, paddy cultivation is very water intensive. Shortages in water supply could be disastrous for this industry, forcing farmers to shift to other crops.

Alpine ecosystems are also threatened. For example, alpine wetlands that support migratory birds and trout have shrunk, causing a decline in these species. 

Alpine ecology studies have also shown that meadows are moving further upslope, bringing invasive species and changing the natural landscape. This is disrupting ecological balance in glacial habitats, with species such as alpine butterflies losing their habitats.

The loss of glacial cover could also reduce the appeal of trekking and expeditions, reducing tourism, causing economic losses for hotels, ski resorts, etc. Even for the local population, glaciers form an important part of the natural landscape: a part of a regional identity. 

Kashmiris I have spoken to tell stories of childhood trips to glaciers like Thajiwas, and are seeing a noticeable difference in the beauty of the glaciers.

This reflects how impactful the global issue of climate change is even in corners of the globe that contribute so little to Carbon emissions. Kashmir relies so heavily on its glaciers, and the risk of losing them could be disastrous across industries, nature, and identities.