Glacier Melting and Water Security

The UNESCO 2025 World Water Development Report states that glaciers in mountainous regions worldwide are retreating at a rate of 0.8 meters per year. Meltwater from glaciers in the Himalayan-Karakoram region, Asia’s “water tower,” could decrease by 30% after 2040, directly threatening the drinking water security of 2 billion people. The report calls for the establishment of transnational water resource management mechanisms, such as joint monitoring systems in the Indus and Mekong river basins.