A landmark initiative has been launched to connect the Himalayas and the Bay of Bengal in a unified response to climate change, integrating mountain and marine ecosystems in a rare source-to-sea approach.
The Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI-SPF) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) on Thursday signed a joint statement of understanding to launch the Glacier to Ocean project – a cross-regional partnership that targets climate resilience from glacial peaks to coastal waters.
Often called the “Third Pole,” the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) contains the largest volume of ice outside the polar regions. Its glaciers feed major river systems supporting around 270 million people in the highlands and 1.65 billion in the downstream basins.
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The region, however, is under growing threat from rapid glacial melt, erratic rainfall, and escalating risks of floods and droughts – impacts that ripple down to the Bay of Bengal.
The Glacier to Ocean project seeks to address these cascading effects through an integrated response, tackling challenges ranging from glacial retreat in the HKH to biodiversity loss and marine pollution in the Bay.
Key components of the initiative include:
Strengthening early warning systems for glacial hazards and climate risks, particularly through upstream-downstream collaboration;
Promoting gender-responsive, community-led adaptation strategies across river basins;
Using environmental DNA (eDNA) technology to monitor marine biodiversity shifts in the Bay of Bengal;
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Raising awareness and shaping policy on heavy metal and plastic pollution affecting watershed ecosystems;
Generating and sharing knowledge across the Ganges Basin to guide regional policies on climate adaptation, water management, and resilience.
By linking the high mountains to the sea, the OPRI-SPF and ICIMOD hope to promote a holistic model for climate resilience that can inform global practices.