The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) released its “2025 Hindu Kush Himalaya Snow Update” report, warning of lowest snow persistence in 23 years across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. The report threatens water, food, and energy security for nearly 2 billion people in South Asia.
Key Findings of Report
- Snow persistence (Nov–Mar 2025) was 23.6% below normal. It is lowest in 23 years.
- This is third consecutive year of below-normal snow in the region.
- Snow persistence in Ganga basin: -24.1% in 2025 (lowest in 23 years), compared to +30.2% in 2015.
- Contribution of snowmelt to river flows: On average, seasonal snowmelt contributes ~23% to annual water flow in HKH-fed rivers.
About Report
- Monitoring Period: 2003–2025 snow seasons (November–March).
- Metric: Snow persistence. It refers to the fraction of time snow remains on the ground after snowfall during the winter season.
- Scope: 12 major HKH river basins and the Tibetan Plateau.
- Trend: Recurrent seasonal deficits with intensified fluctuations, especially over the past five years.
Basin-wise Snow Persistence Decline in 2025
| Basin | 2025 Snow Persistence | Notable Trends |
| Ganga | -24.1% | Lowest in 23 years; from +30.2% in 2015 |
| Mekong | -51.9% | Sharpest decline; from +80.3% in 2019 |
| Salween | -48.3% | From +41.9% in 2020 |
| Tibetan Plateau | -29.1% | From +92.4% in 2022 |
| Brahmaputra | -27.9% | From +27.7% in 2019 |
| Yangtze | -26.3% | Threat to Three Gorges Dam hydropower |
| Indus | -16% | Down from +19.5% in 2020 |
| Yellow River | -18.6% | Extreme fluctuation: +98.2% (2008) → -54.1% (2023) |
| Amu Darya | -18.8% | 4th lowest in 23 years |
| Tarim | -4% | 6 years of consecutive below-normal snow |
| Helmand | -15.2% | From +49.2% in 2020, record low in 2018 (-45%) |
Impacts of Declining Snow Persistence
- Threatens water security for ~2 billion people
- Reduces river runoff, especially in early summer
- Affects hydropower efficiency (e.g., Three Gorges Dam)
- Increases drought risk in agriculture and energy sectors
- Exacerbates heat-related stress in downstream communities
Key Recommendations by ICIMOD
- Science-Based Policies: Integrate snow-anomaly data into national water, agriculture, hydropower planning.
- Regional Cooperation: Strengthen transboundary water management and emissions mitigation.
- Adaptive Infrastructure: Invest in Seasonal storage infrastructure, Efficient meltwater use, Early warning systems for snow anomalies, National preparedness and drought-response plans
- Evidence-Based Decision Making: Disseminate snow-anomaly statistics for sectoral coordination.
About Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Region
| Feature | Description |
| Geographical Spread | ~3,500 km across 8 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan |
| Nickname | Water Tower of Asia |
| River Systems Originating | Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, Mekong, Yangtze, Yellow, Amu Darya, Salween, Tarim, etc. |
| Biodiversity Hotspots | 4 of the 36 global hotspots: Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Mountains of SW China, Central Asia |
| Importance | It holds food, water and power security of nearly 2 billion people. Habitat for countless irreplaceable species. Also acutely fragile and thus absolutely frontline to impacts of triple planetary crisis. |
About ICIMOD
- Established: 1983 as a regional intergovernmental organization, focused on climate resilience and sustainable mountain development
- Mandate: Promote greener, inclusive, sustainable, climate-resilient development and environmental protection in the HKH
- Members: Afghanistan; Bangladesh; Bhutan; China; India; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan.
Importance of Glaciers
- Freshwater Reservoirs: Hold up to 70 % of Earth’s freshwater in ~275,000 glaciers.
- Climate Indicators: Rapid melting signals global warming.
- 2025 International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP): Highlights urgent need to protect these critical water sources and ecosystem services.