Honoring Our Glaciers: Nepal’s Heartfelt Tribute to Combat Climate Change

On Monday, people gathered at Nepal’s Yala glacier for a ceremony signaling its swift decline due to climate change. This event highlighted the urgent need to address global glacial retreat.

The Yala glacier, situated between 5,170 and 5,750 meters above sea level in the Langtang Valley, has experienced dramatic changes. Since 1974, it has shrunk by 66% and pulled back nearly 784 meters. Scientists from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) warn that it could vanish by the 2040s if warming continues. Sharad Prasad Joshi, a cryosphere expert at ICIMOD, expressed concern, stating, “In the 40 years I’ve studied this glacier, I’ve witnessed its decline firsthand. I worry the next generation may not see it.”

During the ceremony, Buddhist monks performed rituals amidst fluttering prayer flags, a stunning Himalayan backdrop enhancing the solemnity. Two granite plaques were unveiled, carrying inscriptions in Nepali, English, and Tibetan, conveying a powerful message from Icelandic writer Andri Snaer Magnason. He stated, “This monument acknowledges our awareness of climate change and our duty to act.” Similar glacier funerals have taken place in places like Iceland and Mexico, drawing attention to the fragility of these icy giants.

April brought near-record global temperatures, marking the second-hottest month in recent history. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, most of the past 22 months have surpassed the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, a limit outlined in the Paris Agreement to prevent catastrophic climate shifts.

Yala is one of several glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayas monitored for over a decade. Joshi described it as an “open textbook” for emerging scientists studying glaciology. Himalayan glaciers provide essential water for nearly two billion people and are melting at an alarming rate, leading to unpredictable and costly natural disasters for local communities.

Recent data from the United Nations reveals alarming trends: all 19 glacier regions worldwide reported a net loss in mass for the third consecutive year, shedding a staggering 450 billion tonnes. Maheshwar Dhakal, head of Nepal’s climate change management division, emphasized the pressing situation: “We’re on the frontlines of climate impacts despite contributing minimally to global emissions.”

He urged global leaders to pay attention, warning, “Our future is tied to these glaciers. Loss is irreversible within human timescales. The time to act is now.”

This situation brings to light not just the environmental challenges but also social ones, with communities facing dire consequences as glaciers continue to fade. As the consequences of inaction loom large, safeguarding these vital resources requires collective effort and immediate intervention.

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