Preparing the HKH for El Niño: Development planning and policymaking hold the key
Summary
El Niño is predicted to intensify, posing serious risks of drought, floods, and heatwaves across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, threatening agriculture, water security, and livelihoods of nearly two billion people.
Key Points
- El Niño is expected to intensify to a moderate or strong level by fall 2024, potentially becoming one of the strongest recorded events.
- The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region is at high risk due to its role in sustaining water resources and millions of livelihoods across South Asia.
- Climate-related disasters have dominated in Nepal, causing significant economic losses and highlighting the vulnerability of mountainous regions.
- Governments in the HKH region must prioritize integrating climate forecasts into agriculture and water resource management, and strengthen regional cooperation to address transboundary impacts.
