Yala Glacier Declared Dead – Climate Change & Himalayan Cryosphere

1. Recently, The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) held a ceremony to commemorate the retreat of Nepal’s Yala Glacier, now declared "dead".
2. The event was part of Nepal's activities under the UN International Year for Glaciers Preservation (2025) and the Sagarmatha Sambad Summit, a mountain dialogue hosted by Nepal.

What are Glaciers ?  Glaciers are large, slow-moving masses of ice formed by accumulated snowfall, moving downhill due to gravity. Global Distribution: Antarctica: ~91% of all glacier ice Greenland: ~8% Rest of World: <1% (including Asia, North America, Europe, Africa, etc.) Australia: Has no glaciers Ice Loss Between 2000–2023: Total glacier loss: 6,542 billion tons Sea-level rise caused: 18 mm For every 1 mm of sea-level rise, 2–3 lakh people become exposed to flooding risks Glacier Melt is the 2nd -largest cause of sea-level rise globally, after ocean warming.

About Yala Glacier

 

1. Location: Langtang Valley, Nepal, within the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region.
2. It is the first glacier in Nepal to be officially declared “dead”, meaning it no longer shows movement or internal flow under its own weight.
3. Since the 1970s, Yala Glacier has lost 66% of its mass, reflecting the serious impact of climate change.
4. Yala is also the first glacier in Asia to have a climate memorial plaque, with inscriptions in English, Nepali, and Tibetan.

What is a "Glacier Funeral"?

1. A symbolic ceremony held to mark the disappearance or near-death of a glacier due to climate change.
2. It is a way to raise awareness about melting glaciers and global warming.
3. Previous glacier funerals include:
   1. Okjökull Glacier, Iceland (2019) – the world’s first glacier funeral.
   2. Pizol Glacier, Switzerland (2019)
   3. Clark Glacier, USA (2020)
   4. Ayoloco Glacier, Mexico (2021)

Consequences of Glacier Loss

1. Reduced Albedo Effect: Glaciers reflect sunlight. As they melt, dark surfaces absorb more heat, increasing global temperatures.
2. Rising Sea Levels: A Nature study found that melting glaciers contributed 2 cm to global sea level rise since 2001.
3. Threat to Water Security: Around 75% of the world’s freshwater is locked in glaciers. Their loss affects drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower.
4. Increased Natural Disasters: Rapid glacial melt increases the risk of:
   • Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
   • Landslides and Avalanches
5. Biodiversity Loss: Glacier-fed rivers are vital for ecosystems. Their disruption affects flora, fauna, and agriculture.

Global and Regional Initiatives for Glacier Conservation

1. International Initiatives
   1. UN Designations:
      1. 2025: Declared International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation
      2. March 21: To be celebrated as World Day for Glaciers
   2. UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme: Focuses on glacier monitoring and sustainable water use.
   3. Himalayan Adaptation Network (IUCN): Encourages community-based climate adaptation in the Himalayas.
   4. Living Himalayas Initiative (WWF): Promotes regional cooperation for Himalayan ecosystems.
2.  India’s Initiatives
   1. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE): Part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
   2. Network Programme on Himalayan Cryosphere: Studies glacier behavior and snow cover.
   3. INCOIS (Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services):
      1. Monitors glaciers and issues GLOF alerts.
   4. Himansh Research Station:
      1. Located in Himachal Pradesh.
      2. Conducts scientific studies on Himalayan glacier dynamics.
   5. Polar Research Missions:
      1. Includes IndARC (2014), India’s underwater observatory in the Arctic.
      2. Research in Antarctica also contributes to cryosphere understanding.

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