Two billion people at risk as Himalayan snow hits 23-year low

Snowfall across Asia’s Hindu Kush-Himalayan mountain range has plummeted to its lowest level in 23 years, sparking grave concerns for nearly two billion people who depend on snowmelt for water, according to a new report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

The region, which spans from Afghanistan to Myanmar, contains the largest ice and snow reserves outside the polar regions. This year, snow persistence was 23.6% below normal, the lowest recorded in over two decades.

“This trend, now in its third consecutive year, threatens water security, river flow, and increases drought risk,” said the ICIMOD Snow Update Report.

Late snowfall and below-average accumulation have already prompted drought warnings in several countries, endangering upcoming harvests and drinking water access amid growing climate-induced heatwaves.

The report highlighted that the Mekong and Salween river basins — vital for China and Myanmar — have lost around half of their snow cover.

ICIMOD’s Director General Pema Gyamtsho stressed the urgency for regional cooperation, improved drought preparedness, and policy shifts, warning that carbon emissions have already locked in recurring snow anomalies in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas.

According to the UN’s World Meteorological Organization, Asia remains the most climate disaster-prone region, with five of the last six years seeing the fastest glacier retreat on record.