Climate Change Impact in Cold Arid Desert of North–Western Himalaya: Community Based Adaptations and Mitigations

Abstract

Climate change is a global phenomenon. The cold arid desert of North Western Himalaya is noticeably impacted by climate change. The increase in temperature and decline in precipitation over the period is more profound. The impact of climate change is in the form of rapid reduction in glaciers which has profound future implications for downstream water resources. The impacts of climate change in the region are superimposed on a variety of other environmental and social stresses. Community led adaptations in the harsh environments have significant impact on improving the livelihoods of the region. The creation of artificial glaciers to combat the receding of natural glaciers, thereby increasing water storage and its availability during summer; and production of vegetables in the peak winter through improved solar greenhouses which mitigates the CO2 emissions were identified as the major climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. The creation of artificial glaciers is a high altitude water conservation technique in the wake of climate change. With glacier retreat and shorter as well as warmer winters in the cold arid eco-region of Western Himalayas (Ladakh), the water crisis is compounding day by day. Construction of artificial glaciers is a means for harvesting glacial meltwater for the irrigation needs of farmers which otherwise goes waste. The technology has a wider scope for up-scaling and can be replicated in similar geo-climatic conditions. The impact of technology on the income of beneficiary is three to four times higher besides social and environmental benefits. Society needs to improve its adaptation strategies, and level structural inequalities that make adaptation by poor people more difficult. It is important to strengthen local knowledge, innovations, and practices within social and ecological systems as well as strengthening the functioning of institutions relevant for adaptation. Sound science together with credible, salient, legitimate knowledge is important to support the development and implementation of sound policies. Researchers and developmental agencies need to further improve this technology and funding should come forth from the donor agencies for implementing of such technology on wider scale.