Why in News?

• Recently, the UNESCO AND IUCN released a joint report titled "World Heritage Glaciers: Sentinels of Climate Change" which outlines the threat to glaciers tin 50 World Heritage sites and recommends suggestions thereon.

Key Highlights

• WHGs have been retreating at an accelerating rate since 2000s due to CO2 emissions.
• The WHGs are losing 58 billion tons of ice every year and are responsible for nearly 5% of observed global sea-level rise.
• Limiting global warming to 1.5°C could save 2/3rd of WHGs.
• Glaciers in 1/3rd of WHG will disappear by 2050.
• Glaciers in about half of all sites could almost entirely disappear by 2100.

Assessed Impact

• Over 900 million people will face hazards of food and water security.
• Great amount of biodiversity loss will lead to an imbalance of the ecosystems.
• Large scale migrations and forced displacement; the refugee crisis will loom large.
• Increased risk of natural disasters such as landslides, floods and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).
  • GLOFs occurs due to collapse of banks of glacial lakes leading to sudden and violent flooding in downstream valleys.

Suggestions

• Urgent need to cut greenhouse gas emissions and invest in nature-based solutions.
• Identify knowledge gaps and improve monitoring networks.
• Design and implement early warning and disaster risk reduction measures.
• International fund for glaciers to support comprehensive research and develop effective response measures.