National Academy of Sciences Report Released: Himalayan Glaciers: Climate Change, Water Resources, and Water Security

Recently, the National Academies Press (NAP) released a report produced by the National Academy of Sciences Division on Earth and Life Studies titled, Himalayan Glaciers: Climate Change, Water Resources, and Water Security (2012). The 143-page finalized report is available free for download (with registration here).  According to the press release,

[s]cientific evidence shows that most glaciers in South Asia's Hindu Kush Himalayan region are retreating, but the consequences for the region's water supply are unclear, this report [also] . . . explains that changes in the availability of water resources could play an increasing role in political tensions, especially if existing water management institutions do not better account for the social, economic, and ecological complexities of the region. To effectively respond to the effects of climate change, water management systems will need to take into account the social, economic, and ecological complexities of the region. This means it will be important to expand research and monitoring programs to gather more detailed, consistent, and accurate data on demographics, water supply, demand, and scarcity.

An accompanying slideshow is available here.