Energy Security in Himalayan Nations
By Dr Arvind Kumar
Known as the “roof of the world”, the Himalayas face numerous challenges in addition to climate change. As mountain glaciers melt, wildlife poachers are running rampant, and forests are being cut down for timber or agriculture expansion.
As many communities depend on the region’s natural resources to maintain their livelihoods and traditions, conservation is an important part of their lives.
But climate change is causing many Himalayan glaciers to retreat at a rapid pace, which could contribute to water shortages and have a major impact on freshwater flows. These changes would have a devastating impact on regional food security, the availability of energy resources and biodiversity.
Accordingly, during the last week of July this year experts from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal gathered in Kathmandu, Nepal for discussions on long-term energy security in the Himalayas, concluding a series of planning sessions that aim to put an ambitious10-year regional climate change adaptation plan in motion. The energy meet saw participating nations develop five key strategies for regional cooperation in climate change and energy security, including the diversification in supply and use of cleaner energy resources, enhancing access to clean energy and improving efficiency. The Himalayas feed seven of Asia’s largest rivers and contain the largest store of freshwater outside the polar ice caps, resources on which the livelihoods of more than 1.3 billion people depend.
According to Tariq Aziz, leader of WWF’s Living Himalayas Initiative, “The Himalayas are one of the biologically richest areas on Earth. But they are also among the most vulnerable to climate change. Creating conditions that make the uptake of clean energy technologies feasible is an important part of ensuring the needs of local communities are met without negative impacts on the environment.”
