The Himalayas, often called the “Third Pole,” are home to the largest concentration of ice outside the Arctic and Antarctic. These towering peaks store massive volumes of freshwater in the form of glaciers, feeding some of the world’s most important river systems—the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Mekong, Irrawaddy, and Salween—upon which hundreds of millions of people across Asia depend.

But today, the glaciers are retreating at an alarming pace. Rising global temperatures are accelerating the rate of glacial melt, with some studies suggesting the region has lost more than a quarter of its ice since 2000. If this trend continues, the implications for Southeast Asia will be profound.

Initially, the melting may lead to increased water flow in rivers, causing flash floods, landslides, and the bursting of glacial lakes. These sudden disasters already threaten highland communities in Nepal, Bhutan, and northern India. But in the long term, the real danger lies in diminishing water supplies. As glaciers shrink, dry-season water flow in major rivers will reduce, jeopardizing agriculture, drinking water access, and hydroelectric power generation downstream in countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

The ecological impacts are equally grave. Biodiversity in fragile mountain ecosystems faces disruption, and sediment flow changes can affect deltas and coastal areas far downstream. This could exacerbate food insecurity and displace vulnerable communities.

Responding to this crisis requires urgent climate action to reduce emissions, increased investment in regional water governance, and enhanced monitoring of glacier systems. Cross-border cooperation will be essential to adapt to changing water realities and safeguard the livelihoods of millions.