Controversy on melting of Himalayan Glaciers


The Fourth Assessment Report of IPCC in its Report of Working Group II on Impact, Adaptation and Vulnerability published in 2007 has provided information that glaciers in Himalaya are receding faster than in any other part of the world. If the present rate continues, the likelihood of them disappearing by the year 2035 and perhaps sooner is very high if the earth keeps warming. In this context, IPCC has stated that clear and well established standards of evidence required by the IPCC procedures, were not applied properly in drafting the paragraph on the subject in question.

Government encourages discussions based on scientific findings on such issues. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has published a discussion paper titled “Himalayan Glaciers: A state –of-Art Review of Glacial Studies, Glacial Retreat and Climate Change, which notes that glaciers have retreated throughout history as part of a natural cyclic phenomenon.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh in a written reply to a question by Shri. Shantaram Laxman Naik in Rajya Sabha today.

KP