Himalayan glaciers facing catastrophic ice loss due to rising temperatures.

Glaciers in the Hindu Kush and Himalaya mountain range region could lose up to 80% of their volume by the end of the century due to climate change, according to a report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development. The melting of ice and snow in the region feeds 12 rivers that provide freshwater to two billion people in 16 countries, including China, India and Pakistan. The erosion of glacial slopes also heightens the likelihood of floods, landslides and avalanches, increasing the risk to millions living in mountain communities. Unique species are also threatened by adverse changes to the climate of the diverse ecosystems that include tropical and subtropical rainforests, temperate coniferous forest and cold deserts.