Hindu Kush Himalayas

The Hindu Kush Himalaya has seen record snow decline for the third straight year. This drop in snow cover threatens water supplies, hydropower, and agriculture across South Asia, affecting nearly two billion people who rely on rivers from the region.

The Himalayan region, known for its majestic peaks and serene landscapes, has become a hotspot for natural disasters, accounting for 44% of all such events in India between 2013 and 2022

The lack of snow and rain over the western Himalayas, which has persisted from December 2023 into January 2024, could potentially lead to heat waves in March and April, followed by heavy rainfall in the pre-monsoon season over northwest India

A recent study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment suggests that global warming may become a major driver of forest loss in the Hindu-Kush Himalayas (HKH) during the 21st century.