UN warning.. The world’s largest fresh water reservoirs are in danger

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has warned that the melting and retreat of glaciers in the Himalayas due to climate change could lead to the shallowing of major rivers in South Asia such as the Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra.

“As rivers and ice sheets continue to recede in the coming decades, major Himalayan rivers such as the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra will be affected and their flows will decrease,” Guterres told the United Nations Conference on Water Resources.

He explained, “In addition, the rise in sea levels, along with the intrusion of salt water, will destroy most of its large delta lands.”

Guterres pointed out that mountains and glaciers are “water towers in the world” and represent the largest reservoir of fresh water on the planet, and support nutrition, health, economy and energy production, explaining that nearly two billion people, or a quarter of the Earth’s population, live in areas that are supplied by glaciers. and seasonal melting of snow by water.

“We urgently need to reduce emissions, strengthen adaptation measures and ensure climate justice, and developing countries should have the resources to adapt to climate disasters and increase their capacity to adapt,” concluded the UN Secretary-General.

Darell King

“Reader. Infuriatingly humble travel enthusiast. Extreme food scholar. Writer. Communicator.”