Challenges faced by upper indus basin (UIB) communities due to climate change

Year : 2024 | Volume :02 | Issue : 01 | Page : 11-20
By

    Rudraakshi Tiwari

  1. Prof. (Dr.) Indrani Chakravorty

  2. Prof. (Dr.) Subhrajit Banerjee

  1. Student, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, India
  2. Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, India
  3. Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, India

Abstract

The Upper Indus Basin (UIB) communities are heavily dependent on water resources for their sustenance. The region relies on glacial and snowmelts for irrigation water, energy, domestic and irrigation uses. Climate change poses threat to vulnerable region all around the world, and Upper Indus Basin (UIB) is no different. The variability in climatic conditions such change in precipitation pattern and temperature fluctuations have disrupted the agriculture practices of the region and threatened food security and livelihoods of the people living in the basin. The transboundary region of Upper Indus Basin is constantly under tension due to geopolitics of the countries involved and the consequence of climate change tend to add to the challenges faced by people living in this region. The research aims to understand effect of climate change on the complex hydrological regime of the basin and its consequence on the communities living there. Furthermore, it intends to explore nexus of climate change with broader socio-economic trends such as demographics, land use patterns and economic activities. The study delves into the implications of changed hydrology and glacial system on agriculture and pastureland productivity. The research also helps in understanding the heightened vulnerability of UIB communities due to increased susceptibility of natural calamities like glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and flash floods. The study seeks to contribute valuable insights to the global discussion on climate change impacts, drawing attention to the need for targeted intervention to protect the wellbeing of Upper Indus Basin (UIB) communities and guarantee the sustainability of this critical watershed region.

Keywords: Food insecurity, pastureland depletion, hydrological regime, climate change, Upper Indus Basin.

[This article belongs to International Journal of Environmental Planning and Development Architecture(ijepda)]

How to cite this article: Rudraakshi Tiwari, Prof. (Dr.) Indrani Chakravorty, Prof. (Dr.) Subhrajit Banerjee , Challenges faced by upper indus basin (UIB) communities due to climate change ijepda 2024; 02:11-20
How to cite this URL: Rudraakshi Tiwari, Prof. (Dr.) Indrani Chakravorty, Prof. (Dr.) Subhrajit Banerjee , Challenges faced by upper indus basin (UIB) communities due to climate change ijepda 2024 {cited 2024 Jan 24};02:11-20. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijepda/article=2024/view=131731


Browse Figures

References

  1. Orr, A.; Ahmad, B.; Alam, U.; Appadurai, A. N.; Bharucha, Z. P.; Biemans, H.; Bolch, T.; Chaulagain, N. P.; Dhaubanjar, S.; Dimri, A. P.; Dixon, H.; Fowler, H. J.; Gioli, G.; Halvorson, S. J.; Hussain, A.; Jeelani, G.; Kamal, S.; Khalid, I. S.; Liu, S.; Lutz, A.; Mehra, M. K.; Miles, E.; Momblanch, A.; Muccione, V.; Mukherji, Aditi; Mustafa, D.; Najmuddin, O.; Nasimi, M. N.; Nusser, M.; Pandey, V. P.; Parveen, S.; Pellicciotti, F.; Pollino, C.; Potter, E.; Qazizada, M. R.; Ray, S.; Romshoo, S.; Sarkar, S. K.; Sawas, A.; Sen, S.; Shah, A.; Ali Shah, M. Azeem; Shea, J. M.; Sheikh, A. T.; Shrestha, A. B.; Tayal, S.; Tigala, S.; Virk, Z. T.; Wester, P.; Wescoat, J. L. Jr. 2022. Knowledge priorities on climate change and water in the Upper Indus Basin: a horizon scanning exercise to identify the top 100 research questions in social and natural sciences.
  2. Archer, H. J. F. a. D. R., January 2005. Hydro-climatological variability in the Upper Indus Basin and implications for water resources.
  3. Dahri, Z. H., 10 May 2021. Climate change and hydrological regime of the high-altitude Indus basin under extreme climate scenarios.
  4. Gardelle, J. B. E. A. Y. &. K., 2013. A Region-wide glacier mass balances over the Pamir-Karakoram-Himalaya during 1999–2011 Cryosphere.
  5. Jamal H. Ougahi, M. E. J. C. a. S. J. C., May 2022. Modelling climate change impact on water resources of the Upper Indus Basin.
  6. Romshoo, P. S. A., 2012. Indus River Basin Common Concerns and the Roadmap to Resolution.
  7. Tuladhar, A. H., November 2022. Climate change, water and agriculture linkages in the upper Indus basin: A field study from Gilgit-Baltistan and Leh-Ladakh.
  8. Sehrish Khan Qazlbash, M. Z., March 2021. Socioeconomic determinants of climate change adaptations in the flood-prone rural community of Indus Basin, Pakistan.
  9. Bhutiyani, M. R., Kale, V.S. and N. J. Pawar, 2009. Climate change and the precipitation variations in the Northwestern Himalaya: 1866–2006, Int. Jr. of Climatol. published online in Wiley Inter Science (www.interscience. wiley.com) DOI: 10.1002/joc.1920
  10. Ageta, Y. and Kadota, T. 1992. Predictions of changes of glacier mass balance in the Nepal Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau: a case study of air temperature increase for three glaciers. Annals of Glaciology 16, pp 89-94.
  11. Marshall, M. 2010. Frozen jet stream links Pakistan floods, Russian fires. New Scientist. 10 August 2010.
  12. Archer, D. 2003. Contrasting hydrological regimes in the upper Indus basin, J. Hydrol., 274, 198–210.
  13. Habib, Z. 2000. Resource Conservation and Civil Society: Water and Food Security in Pakistan. In Peter Mollinga (Ed.) Water for Food and Rural Development (PP. 182 196). London, UK: Sage Publications.
  14. Romshoo, S.A. 2012. Glacial lake outburst flood analysis for New Ganderbal hydroelectric power project using BREACH AND FLDWAV models.
  15. 2005. An Overview of Glaciers, Glacier Retreat, and Subsequent Impacts in Nepal, India and China. WWF Nepal Program March, 2005
  16. World Bank. 2005. Better Management of Indus Basin Waters; Strategic Issues and Challenges. Washington, DC: World Bank
  17. 2010. High mountain glaciers and climate change Challenges to human livelihoods and adaptation.
  18. Hussain, S. S., Mudasser, M., Sheikh, M. M. and Manzoor, N. 2005. Climate change and variability in mountain regions of Pakistan: Implications for water and agriculture. Pakistan Journal of Meteorology, 2: 79–94.
  19. Kadota, T., Seko, K. and Ageta, Y. 1993. Shrinkage of Glacier AX010 since 1978, ShorongHimal, East Nepal. Snow and Glacier Hydrology, IAHS Publ. no. 218:1, 45- 1,5.
  20. Nellemann, C. and Kaltenborn, B. P. 2009. The Environmental Food Crisis in Asia – a ‘blue revolution’ in water efficiency is needed to adapt to Asia’s looming water crisis. Sustainable Mountain Development
  21. 2009. The environmental food crisis. A rapid response assessment.
  22. Shafi, M. and Romshoo, S. A. 2008. Evaluating the pasture productivity of the lidder valley using geospatial techniques. Proceedings of the 4th National Symposium of the Indian Society of Geomatics (ISG), Bhopal, India, 18-20 February 2008.
Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 02
Issue 01
Received January 22, 2024
Accepted January 24, 2024
Published January 24, 2024
Views: 82