Category: Cryosphere and water

Viewing disaster risk reduction through a GEDSI lens: actions and tools to make DRR accessible and inclusive to all

In the midst of a peak climbing season, a host of cryosphere policymakers, scientists, researchers, students, media personnel, and other stakeholders convened in Chengdu and Sichuan for open conversations and examination of a pressing global issue: climate change and its impact on the Earth’s cryosphere.

As global temperatures rise, hazards are increasing in south-central Nepal. A series of community-led projects supported by ICIMOD and the Government of Australia are helping communities adapt.

Integrating GEDSI into water management can contribute to improving access to water irrespective of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, or social status.

Mountain peaks in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region – usually capped in a white blanket of snow in the winter – remain noticeably bare this year, particularly in the western Himalayas. This winter has been very unusual, with little or no snowfall throughout the region. Farmers are understandably concerned, as low snowfall has a direct and severe impact on agriculture. This is particularly acute for the HKH region which is heavily dependent on agriculture.

The ground floor of the modest Melamchi River Resort, that lies just northeast of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu, lies buried beneath debris.

Chhirak Maya Rai, 82, has witnessed remarkable changes throughout her life, though water was never an issue in her community.