Category: Save Third Pole

Save the Third Pole– Climate Change Advocacy for the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)
Overview
The Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalaya (HKH), a region of Gilgit-Baltistan referred to as the Third Pole, encompasses over 7,000 glacier spaces. This region supports 250 million inhabitants via the Indus River. This cryospheric region serves as Asia’s water tower, yet it is experiencing rapid melting.

The Crisis
Climate Shifts

• Temperatures in the HKH are increasing at a rate faster than the global average, with certain basins warming by as much as 0.66°C per decade (ICIMOD 2023).
• Precipitation patterns are becoming erratic, affecting both agriculture and water securtity
  Cryosphere Breakdown
• Glacier mass loss has surged by 65% in recent decades (ICIMOD 2023).
• Snow cover is diminishing by approximately 5 days per decade.
• Permafrost degradation is accelerating, leading to landslides and slope instability.
•  Projected glacier loss by 2100 is as follows:
  o 30–50% under 1.5–2°C warming
  o 55–80% under 4°C warming
• The number of glacial lakes is on the rise, with GLOF risks projected to triple by 2100.
•  Meltwater is essential for 129 million farmers, with up to 83% of groundwater recharge in certain areas derived from glacial sources.
•  67% of HKH ecoregions are situated outside protected areas (ICIMOD 2023)
•  Climate change is causing species extinction, upslope migration, and the spread of invasive species.
• It is projected that 25% of endemic species in the Indian Himalaya may be lost by 2100.
• Traditional livelihoods, including farming, herding, and tourism, are increasingly under stress.
•  Communities are facing hazards, displacement, and mental stress.
•  Cultural and spiritual connections to the mountains are at risk.
• Vulnerable mountain communities are experiencing exacerbated inequality.

Campaign Goal

The “Save the Third Pole” initiative seeks to raise urgent awareness regarding the climate crisis affecting the HKH, mobilize public and political support, and empower local voices to advocate for stronger global action.

Key Messages

• “The Third Pole is Melting” – Asia’s glaciers are rapidly disappearing, jeopardizing water resources, life, and culture.
• “No Water Without Ice” – Glaciers and snow serve as lifelines for billions of people across Asia.
• “Mountain Voices Matter” – Indigenous and highland communities must be integral to climate action efforts.
•  “Nature is Our Ally” – Ecosystem resilience is crucial for enduring the climate crisis.

Conclusion
The HKH is at a critical juncture. This campaign urges the global community to acknowledge the melting Third Pole as a collective emergency and to take decisive action to safeguard the people, biodiversity, and water systems that it supports.