Himalayas reach environmental tipping points
The authors of a new study believe the Himalayas are at crisis point – with millions of lives and livelihoods threatened – and have proposed a path to resilience based on sustainable development
TIPPING POINTS  – CASCADING FEEDBACK LOOPS
Nature loop: Melt speeds up thawing
Hazard loop: Each triggers another disaster
From glacier collapse, to landslide, dam and flood in under two hours
Economic loop: Disaster recovery crowds out investment in resilience
Reconstruction in Nepal could cost 10% of GDP
Glacial retreat exposes darker rock, lowering albedo –  ability to reflect sunlight – so it absorbs more heat
WORLDS’ THIRD POLE
Arctic
Antarctic
Himalayas
Contain 4 of world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots
Glacial area lost in industrial era
10%
40%
Historic figures unavailable
People reliant for sustenance
~2 billion
~4 million
~5,000
SYSTEMIC SHOCKS
Peak Water: Expected by mid-century – maximum glacier meltwater runoff, after which shrinking glaciers provide less water downstream 
Food, water insecurity
Displacement, mass migration
Sovereign debt strain
Picture: Getty Images
Source: SystemIQ
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