ICIMOD HKH Glacier Change Summary
ICIMOD's regional evidence on glacier change across the Hindu Kush Himalaya and its implications for long-run water systems.
- Page status
- Verified core
- Updated
- 2026-05-11
- Last reviewed
- 2026-07-19
- Review due
- 2027-07-19
Summary
Regional glacier change assessment for the Hindu Kush Himalaya. Documents the scale and pace of glacier retreat affecting Nepal's river systems and long-term hydropower viability.
Key Data Points
- Glacier area across HKH fell by ~12% between 1990 and 2020, with faster recent ice loss
- Nepal-specific inventories show substantial long-run glacier retreat
- Glacier retreat rate: ~0.4–0.5m water equivalent per year
- Under high-emission scenarios, 65% glacier volume reduction projected by 2100
Relevance to Project
Underpins Peak Water concept and GLOF Risk. Relevant to Koshi Basin (278 glaciers, 51 km³ ice). The 12% area loss and 65% volume projection are key numbers for the climate dimension of the public energy-system story, including the peak-water framing for the 2040–2070 build window.
Limitations
- Regional aggregate, not Nepal-disaggregated. The 12% area loss and 65% volume projection are HKH-wide figures; Nepal-specific glacier inventories may show different retreat rates and volume trajectories.
- 2023 publication window. Does not capture the most recent acceleration in glacier mass loss reported in subsequent ICIMOD and WMO assessments.
- Scenario-dependent projections. The 65% volume reduction figure is under a high-emission scenario; lower-emission pathways produce different outcomes. The source page does not differentiate between scenario bands.
- Glacier retreat rate is a regional average. The ~0.4–0.5m water equivalent per year varies significantly by sub-basin and elevation band.