As we join the global community in marking World Water Day with the theme ‘Accelerating Change’, we are yet again reminded how critical this resource is, particularly to those of us living in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) – a region that is the source of 10 major river systems, providing water to nearly 2 billion people and irrigating the food baskets of Asia. Water is a precious resource, essential for all aspects of life, and its availability and quality are critical to the wellbeing of the people and the environment. In the HKH, accessing sufficient high-quality water has become an everyday struggle, being further aggravated by climate change impacts. ‘Too much or too little water’ is already a reality in the region. In its abundance, lives and livelihoods are lost to water-related disasters, as monsoon wreaks havoc through the summer, while parts of the region also experience acute water shortages triggering droughts. Due to seasonal variations, many places in the Himalaya can experience both ‘too much and too little water’ in different seasons which raises several challenges including sanitation.
Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), SDG 6 concerns ensuring water and sanitation for all by 2030. It is a matter of great concern that progress towards achieving SDG6 in South Asia is slow, with countries in the region facing major challenges. The latest data suggests that we are far behind in achieving this goal and that urgent action is required to accelerate progress. Achieving SDG 6 and other internationally agreed water-related goals and targets in the HKH region requires the collective efforts of national governments, civil society, and other stakeholders. In this way, we can increase investments in water and sanitation infrastructure, improve water governance, and promote sustainable water management practices.
At ICIMOD, our new four-year plan – Medium-Term Action Plan V – is committed to promoting sustainable water management practices for accelerating transformative change for managing, restoring and conserving water resources through participatory, inclusive and innovative solutions and partnerships. ICIMOD interventions use an integrated ‘basin-scale’ approach and focus on studying and managing water resources from source to sea or from ‘Himalayas to Ocean’ (H2O). Through our Strategic Group 1: Reducing Climate and Environmental Risks, we are working with regional partners and local stakeholders to identify and provide research-backed solutions for disaster risk reduction and adaptation. For the wider HKH region, Chapter Eight of our HKH Assessment outlines critical actions to address the threats to water security in the region from climate change and human activities, including a call for good water governance, more transboundary cooperation, and the involvement of local people in water-related decisions.
Climate Action, SDG 13, is closely linked with SDG 6 and acknowledges that climate change will increase the occurrence and magnitude of floods and droughts and calls for urgent action to combat climate change to save lives and improve livelihoods. Climate change impacts will be felt most through changes in water resources resulting from the speeding up of the water cycle and changing weather systems, both at local and global levels. Floods and droughts collectively impact not only access to water but also a number of sectors that are dependent on water such as agriculture, industry, health and power.
In 2021, we witnessed the reality of cascading hazards related to water: in Melamchi in central Nepal, and in Chamoli in northern India, a series of interlinked hazards triggered massive floods. Climate change will undoubtedly bring compounding water-related hazards, such as the seasonal drought of 2022 in Pakistan that affected agricultural production and threatened food security. This was immediately followed by unprecedented floods that heightened the impacts, further exacerbating food and water security as well as disrupting lives. These types of hazards are on the rise globally and will soon become the norm rather than the exception. Urgent and collective action is required to prevent them from becoming disasters.
No discussion about water can be complete without referring to mountains. Mountains are vital for providing fresh water to support the lives and livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. The HKH, often referred to as the ‘Third Pole’ due to hosting 10 of the world’s highest peaks and 100,000km2 of glaciers, supplies fresh water to nearly half of the global population and supports approximately 20% of the world’s population. However, climate change is causing a rapid melting of glaciers, reduction in snow cover and degradation of the permafrost, leading to an irregular water supply downstream, disasters and degradation of ecosystems.
On this important day, ICIMOD reaffirms its commitment to continue our work to address the challenges of ‘too much or too little’ water with increased focus and joins the global voice to invite everyone to be part of the solution. I urge you all to make similar commitments because every drop counts, and our collective efforts are required to save the only inhabitable planet.
Pema Gyamtsho
