The Third Pole

Clean Kumbh, dirty Ganga: River's transformation during Mela was 'event management', not sustainable solution

At the Kumbh Mela this year, the Ganga ran clean, but it was the result of temporary solution — not enough to keep the river basin pollution free, and one that only concealed the problem

Hindu Kush Himalayas witness growth in hydropower projects, despite climate change risks

With growing warnings of the cascading impacts of climate change in the Hindu Kush Himalayas, the region’s hydropower sector ought to take note

Climate change poses risk to Hindu Kush Himalayas, but regional co-operation can offer hope

The communities of the Hindu Kush Himalayas region are critically stressed, but their hope lies in each other, and a high degree of foresighted diplomacy

Water dangers loom for South Asia: Report suggests countries have to start cooperating, or pay a huge price

With glacier retreat, permafrost melt, and extreme rainfall events, ICIMOD’s HIMAP report suggests that the countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayas have to start cooperating far more closely, or pay a huge price

In the Himalayas, women are left behind in climate change conversations, policies

When you look at climate change or disasters, the most affected are the poorest women in the Himalayas, because they don’t have access to resources, information, or the skills to adapt.

Silt aids farming in Bangladesh, but authorities must consider risk of floods, compromised navigation

Farming in the delta in Bangladesh depends on silt, which is being blocked by dams in other countries upstream

Floods on Karnali force local population to migrate, as embankments fail to provide relief

Flood embankments built along the Karnali in India have exacerbated disastrous floods and made people more vulnerable

Himalayas witness unabated construction as authorities ignore looming climate change issues

While infrastructure projects such as dams and roads gather pace in the Himalayas, there is no cooperation between India, China and Nepal to tackle the growing problems associated with climate change

Amid politicking, Nepal's largest dam project has left locals in limbo for decades

Nepal’s largest dam project is caught up in wider regional political play, leaving locals in limbo for decades.

Abandoned by Nepal and China, the Hilsa village lives in fear of floods

Tibet’s development boom has left downstream Nepal more vulnerable to floods and dam collapse – with both governments turning a blind eye