Food insecurity a threat to the Himalayan region

 A review of existing research on food security in the Himalayas found that climate change led to reductions in food productivity and quality, as highlighted by a Mongabay-India (MI) report. The review also found that climate change impacted food inflation, livestock, and changed dietary habits.

The MI report points out that in the review researchers have documented at least 30 different ways in which farmers and residents are adapting to food insecurity driven by climate change. Multiple studies have confirmed that the accessibility, availability, and stability of food sources in the Himalayas are becoming increasingly precarious as global mean surface temperatures rise. Around 210 million people reside in the Himalayas, which stretch across India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and China. Around a third of the population living in the broader Hindu Kush Himalayan ranges are food insecure, and half are suffering from malnutrition, with women and children worst impacted. As the MI report warns, the Himalayas are one of the most vulnerable landscapes on earth to the impacts of climate change and urban development. If efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels succeed, it will still lead to an overshoot of an additional 0.3 degrees, reaching at least 1.8 degrees in the Himalayas, which holds the world’s third largest amount of glacial ice and snow.

The highlights recorded by the review states that it assessed the impact of climate change on four pillars of food security in the Himalayan region. Major effects of climate change include decreased farming and livestock output, water scarcity, heightened climate extremes, and reduced income. Primary climate adaptation strategies include improved farming practices, water management, diverse income sources, and varied diets. Only a few studies have focused on adaptation measures addressing the challenges of utilization and stability. The study recommends that more comprehensive research is required on adaptive strategies addressing the climate threat across all four dimensions of food security.

The review’s abstract states that climate change profoundly impacts Himalayan communities, jeopardizing food security across all dimensions: availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. However, existing literature lacks a comprehensive synthesis of these effects and adaptive measures. The review identifies various impact pathways (48 studies), such as reduced crop productivity (79.2%), effects on livestock (39.6%), and disruptions in food supply chains (29.2%), all of which influence food availability. Accessibility is hindered by reduced income (64.6%) and climate-driven price hikes (18.8%). Utilization suffers from water and sanitation challenges (50%), increased pests (60.4%), and reduced food quality (16.7%). Stability is compromised by extreme events (56.3%), migration (27.1%), and human-wildlife conflicts (14.6%). Additionally, the review identified 30 adaptive measures implemented by the households (23 studies), primarily addressing availability (18 measures), with fewer focusing on accessibility (3 measures), utilization (5 measures), and stability (4 measures). Interventions like improving income stability, food affordability, water and sanitation infrastructure, climate-resilient agriculture, and developing strategies to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events and human-wildlife conflicts will likely benefit household food security. The review, which looks at 55 English-language studies conducted between 2000 and 2023, captures these impacts on food. The findings hold global significance for informing policies and practices in other vulnerable regions facing similar climatic challenges.

The Introduction to the review highlights that the Himalayan region, often called the ‘water tower of Asia’, serves as an important source of livelihood for millions of people downstream, providing sustenance and economic opportunities. However, its susceptibility to climate change (CC) is pronounced due to extreme climatic conditions and diverse geographical and socio-economic factors, setting it apart as a highly vulnerable area. Particularly at risk is mountain agriculture, where crop production fluctuations and food shortages are more prevalent than in lowland regions. Additionally, the accelerated retreat of Himalayan glaciers is particularly concerning as it outpaces global rates and significantly impacts the region's economy, ecology, and downstream through water supply disruption, increased risk of disasters like flood and landslides, and associated challenges. Several studies indicate significant historical shifts in the climate of the Himalayan region, and even more profound transformations are expected in forthcoming years. The region has experienced past warming nearly equal to the global average. Numerous studies have also reported an increase in extreme and unpredictable weather events.