The effects of climate change on Mount Everest and the Hindu Kush Himalaya region have reached alarming levels, according to a recent study by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The research, titled “Causes, Effects, and Future Risks of Thame Valley Glacial Lake Outburst Flood,” highlights increasing risks of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), avalanches, and rapid snowmelt in the Everest region.

Temperature Rising Faster Than Global Average

ICIMOD experts Sudan Bikash Maharjan, Tenzing Chogyal Sherpa, and Arun Bhakta Shrestha found that the Hindu Kush Himalaya’s temperature is rising by 0.28°C every decade, nearly three times the global rate. Glacier melting in the Everest region has increased by 65% in the last decade, accelerating flood risks.

Rising Glacial Lakes and Flood Hazards

Over 25,000 glacial lakes now exist across major Himalayan river basins, many expanding dangerously due to rapid ice melt. The study confirmed that a glacial lake outburst in Thame Valley, Solukhumbu, released 156,000 cubic meters of water, triggering destructive floods that carried boulders up to 80 km downstream.

Impact on Local Communities

The Thame flood damaged homes, schools, bridges, and a hydropower project, displacing 135 people and destroying 25 houses. Luckily, there were no fatalities due to gradual water release during daytime.

Urgent Call for Climate Action

Co-author Tenzing Chogyal Sherpa emphasized that these floods are a stark reminder of how mountain communities bear the brunt of climate change. Senior advisor Arun Bhakta Shrestha called for early-warning systems, flood monitoring stations, and riverbank protection to prevent future disasters.

A Growing Crisis in the Himalayas

Since the 1920s, over 90 glacial lake bursts have been recorded in Nepal, with five major incidents in the Sagarmatha (Everest) region alone in the last 50 years.
The Building Adaptation and Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalayas Project aims to reduce future disaster risks through sustainable planning and resilient infrastructure.

The Thame incident serves as a wake-up call for policymakers to protect Himalayan ecosystems, communities, and the future of the world’s highest mountain region.Hindu Kush Himalaya climate change