International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

GS 3 – ENVIRONMENT

Context

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is organizing a high-altitude ceremony on May 12, 2025, at over 5,000 meters in Nepal’s Langtang Valley to commemorate the rapidly retreating Yala Glacier, one of the most studied glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region.
The event highlights the severe impacts of climate change on Himalayan glaciers and aims to raise global awareness about the urgent need for glacier preservation.

Key Highlights

1. Memorial Unveiling
   • Two granite plaques will be unveiled with messages from noted authors:
     • Manjushree Thapa (Nepal)
     • Andri Snær Magnason (Iceland) – his message was earlier inscribed on memorials for Iceland’s OK Glacier (2019) and Mexico’s Ayoloco Glacier (2021).
   • The plaques will feature inscriptions in English, Nepali, and Tibetan languages, including:
     • Current atmospheric CO₂ levels.
     • A poignant message:
       “We know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it.”
2. Ceremony Details
   • Event will start with a Buddhist prayer by local monks.
   • Glaciologists, scientists, villagers, and government officials will participate.
   • Includes a visual display showing photographic comparisons of Yala Glacier’s retreat from 1974 to 2025.
3. Significance of Yala Glacier
   • Historically used to train Nepal’s glaciologists because of its accessibility.
   • Predicted to vanish completely by 2040 due to rapid melting driven by climate change.
4. Global Context
   • Part of UN International Year for Glaciers’ Preservation 2025.
   • Precedes the Sagarmatha Sambaad summit, where discussions will focus on:
     • Glacier loss.
     • Food, water, and energy security.
5. Community Involvement
   • A local gathering was held on May 9, 2025, in Mundu village to share scientific findings and personal stories of change.
   • Participants included experts from:
     • ICIMOD
     • Tribhuvan University
     • Kathmandu University

Climate Change Implications

• Accelerated glacier retreat in the HKH region threatens:
  • Water security for millions dependent on glacier-fed rivers.
  • Hydropower generation and agriculture.
  • Biodiversity and mountain ecosystems.
• Highlights the urgency of global cooperation in addressing climate change.