Warning Issued by The UN Chief about The Critical Condition of Indian Rivers: Actions Need to be Taken Soon!

Warning Issued by The UN Chief :-

New Delhi, March 23, 2023 - The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has issued a warning that the world could soon witness a significant reduction in the flow of major Himalayan rivers, including the Indus, the Ganges, and the Brahmaputra, due to global warming. 

These rivers are hugely important for India, as people from the region depend on them for irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower generation.

In a statement released yesterday, Guterres said that the melting of glaciers and ice sheets in the Himalayan region could lead to a substantial decrease in water availability in the coming decades. 

He further stated that the consequence of such a reduction in water flow would be catastrophic for millions of people who rely on these rivers for their livelihoods.

The Secretary-General's warning comes on the heels of a new report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), highlighting the alarming rate at which glaciers in the Himalayas are melting. 

The report states that the Himalayas, home to the largest concentration of glaciers outside the polar regions, are losing ice at the rate of about 8 billion tonnes per year. This rate is expected to increase in the coming years, leading to a decline in the flow of the region's major rivers.

The UNEP report also highlights the impact of global warming on the region's fragile ecosystem, an abode for a wide variety of plant and animal species. 

The report warns that the rapid melting of glaciers could lead to increased landslides, floods, and other natural disasters, which could have severe consequences for the people residing in the region.

The Indian government has expressed concern over the Secretary-General's warning and has called for urgent action to be taken to address the issue of global warming.

India, one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, has pledged to reduce its carbon emissions by 33-35% from its 2005 levels by 2030. However, experts have warned that this target is not ambitious enough, given the scale of the problem.

In response to the UNEP report, the Indian government has announced plans to set up a Himalayan Climate Research Centre to monitor the impact of global warming on the region's fragile ecosystem. The Centre will focus on collecting and analyzing data on the rate of glacier melt, as well as other indicators of climate change such as temperature, precipitation, and snow cover.

The government has also announced plans to launch a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the impact of global warming on the Himalayan region. The campaign, launched in collaboration with civil society organizations, will aim to educate people about the importance of preserving the region's fragile ecosystem and the urgent need to reduce carbon emissions.

In conclusion, the Secretary-General's warning about the potential impact of global warming on major Himalayan rivers like the Indus, the Ganges, and the Brahmaputra is a wake-up call for the world. The UNEP report highlights the urgent need for action to address the problem of global warming, which is not only threatening the region's fragile ecosystem but the livelihoods of millions of people who depend on these rivers for their survival. It is time for governments and civil society organizations around the world to come together and take decisive action to mitigate the impact of global warming and preserve our planet for future generations.