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ClimateQuiet 9d · day 11

Himalayan Communities Revive Ancient Water Systems as Glaciers Collapse

Nepal and other mountain nations deploy centuries-old techniques and artificial glaciers to adapt to accelerating ice loss and extreme flooding.

newest coverage 9d agosummary written 7d ago3 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • Himalayan glaciers are melting 65% faster than a decade ago; by 2100, 80% of glacier mass is projected to be lost, affecting 2 billion people downstream.
  • A glacier-triggered ice-rock avalanche killed over 1,400 in Nepal on August 26; the country now faces catastrophic flood risks from four massive glacial lakes.
  • Communities are adapting by reviving ancient water systems—rainwater harvesting, underground stone networks—and building artificial ice stupas, while Nepal secured the first U.N. Loss and Damage Fund payout ($21.6M) for climate compensation.

“The Himalaya is often described as Asia's water tower, but that metaphor is dangerously passive if it makes the mountains sound like a stable reservoir.”

Ngamindra Dahal, Hydrometeorologist, NWCF chairperson · Time ↗

Ngamindra Dahal Hydrometeorologist, NWCF chairpersonNepal Water Conservation Foundation (NWCF) Environmental organizationHimalayan communities Local populations across eight countries

Himalayan Communities Revive Ancient Water Systems as Glaciers Collapse
Time

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 2 pieces in 3h at Oct 30, 9 AM; 3 pieces over 11 days (2 articles · 1 post) Oct 28, 6 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Oct 28, 9 PM — quietOct 29, 12 AM — quietOct 29, 3 AM — quietOct 29, 6 AM — quietOct 29, 9 AM — quietOct 29, 12 PM — quietOct 29, 3 PM — quietOct 29, 6 PM — quietOct 29, 9 PM — quietOct 30, 12 AM — quietOct 30, 3 AM — quietOct 30, 6 AM — quietOct 30, 9 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Oct 30, 12 PM — quietOct 30, 3 PM — quietOct 30, 6 PM — quietOct 30, 9 PM — quietOct 31, 12 AM — quietOct 31, 3 AM — quietOct 31, 6 AM — quietOct 31, 9 AM — quietOct 31, 12 PM — quietOct 31, 3 PM — quietOct 31, 6 PM — quietOct 31, 9 PM — quietNov 1, 12 AM — quietNov 1, 2 AM — quietNov 1, 5 AM — quietNov 1, 8 AM — quietNov 1, 11 AM — quietNov 1, 2 PM — quietNov 1, 5 PM — quietNov 1, 8 PM — quietNov 1, 11 PM — quietNov 2, 2 AM — quietNov 2, 5 AM — quietNov 2, 8 AM — quietNov 2, 11 AM — quietNov 2, 2 PM — quietNov 2, 5 PM — quietNov 2, 8 PM — quietNov 2, 11 PM — quietNov 3, 2 AM — quietNov 3, 5 AM — quietNov 3, 8 AM — quietNov 3, 11 AM — quietNov 3, 2 PM — quietNov 3, 5 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 3, 11 PM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 5 AM — quietNov 4, 8 AM — quietNov 4, 11 AM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 5 PM — quietNov 4, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 11 PM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 5 AM — quietNov 5, 8 AM — quietNov 5, 11 AM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 5 PM — quietNov 5, 8 PM — quietNov 5, 11 PM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 5 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 11 AM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 5 PM — quietNov 6, 8 PM — quietNov 6, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quietToday, 8 AM — quiet 1
Oct 29Oct 30Oct 31Nov 1Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6now · 11:51 AM ET
  1. 1

    ReportHimalayan glacier loss accelerating dramatically

    Analysis shows the Himalayas are losing glacier mass 65% faster than a decade ago, with 80% projected to be lost by 2100. The impacts will affect 2 billion Asians across 12 major downstream river basins by 2050. Meanwhile, communities are reviving ancient water systems—rainwater harvesting through bamboo piping, underground stone spout networks—and building artificial ice stupas to adapt.

    “What once happened across generations may now happen within one.”
    — Ngamindra Dahal
    1. 2 outlets Himalayan Communities Are Relying on Centuries-Old Water Solutions In the Face of Climate Change

      first by Time, 9d ago · also Time Magazine

  2. background

    Nepal approved for first U.N. Loss and Damage Fund payout — Nepal became the first country approved for a provisional payout from the U.N.'s Loss and Damage Fund, securing over $21.6 million for recovery from the catastrophic floods.

  3. background

    Ice-rock avalanche triggered by glacier collapse kills over 1,400 in Nepal — A 55 million-ton, 93-m.p.h. avalanche near the Tibet border triggered by a glacier collapse killed more than 1,400 people in Nepal, with thousands more still missing.