Much less winter snow is falling on the Himalayas
The reduction in ice and snow will not only change how the Himalayas look, it will also impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people and many ecosystems in the region.
As temperatures rise in spring, snow accumulated during winter melts and the runoff feeds river systems.
This snowmelt is a crucial source for the region's rivers and streams, supplying water for drinking, irrigation and hydropower.
BBC 12 January 2026
China has started construction of the world’s biggest hydroelectric dam, more expensive than the International Space Station.The structures will retain waters of the Yarlung Tsangpo, one of several major rivers that are sustained by Tibet’s vast glaciers and provide drinking water, irrigation and hydro power for more than 1.3 billion people in ten countries.
China possesses 20% of the world’s population but only 7% of its fresh water.
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