A new report on the Himalayas finds glaciers are losing mass 65% faster than a decade ago, with black carbon from South Asia accounting for about one-third of the melt. The study, led by Systemiq and ICIMOD, identifies brick kilns as major soot sources and flags 56 very high risk glacial lakes in India that could trigger flash floods. Only 0.1% of the region's 40,000 glaciers are regularly monitored, leaving downstream communities and infrastructure exposed. The report warns that up to 80% of current glacier volume could be lost by 2100 if trends continue, threatening water supplies, hydropower, and agriculture across South Asia. It also notes that the Himalayan ecosystem supports over 20% of India's GDP, yet mountain states retain only 5% of the economic value generated. The authors call for immediate action on black carbon, expanded monitoring, and cross-border early warning systems, arguing that every rupee invested could return Rs 8 in avoided losses.
