World Meteorological Organization Warns of Dire Consequences from Glacial Retreat on Water Security
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has issued a warning regarding the severe implications of glacial retreat on global water security. Dr. Narelle van der Wel, head of Cryosphere Monitoring at the WMO, stated that while accelerated melting initially increases runoff and flood risk, the long-term effect is a diminished capacity of glaciers to store water and sustain river flows during dry periods. This phenomenon is particularly critical in regions like the Himalayas, where melting glaciers threaten the water supply for up to 1.65 billion people. The Himalayan region is experiencing warming at nearly twice the global average, with temperatures rising 0.3°C per decade. This rapid warming makes ice highly sensitive, leading to increased melting of permafrost, snow, and ice, which in turn destabilizes slopes and increases hazard risks such as rockfalls, landslides, and avalanches. The WMO emphasizes that the precise cause of recent disasters, such as the floods in Nepal, is still under investigation, ... 
