Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Summary of key hazards, vulnerabilities and risks (continued)

Key Vulnerability

Key Risk

Climate Hazards 7

• Communities, property and infrastructure in avalanche- prone areas • Poor avalanche monitoring • Insufficient nature-based and man-made protection infrastructure • Poorly trained mountaineers and guides • The elderly are more likely to experience respiratory and cardiovascular problems during heatwaves • High exposure of forests, agricultural land and other important habitats • High exposure of settlements and physical assets, including tourism operations, in wildfire-prone areas • Lack of early warning and firefighting capacities • Limited access to insurance against climate-related losses • People, including urban communities, living in the vicinity of wildfire areas and also communities further away exposed to gas and particulate matter from wildfire smoke • People, animals and property located below unstable glacial lakes • Limited access to insurance against climate-related losses • Lack of infrastructure such as drainage, early warning systems and water management systems

• Death and injury • Damage to property and infrastructure

Avalanches

• Deaths and injury from cardiovascular diseases in vulnerable populations • Death and injury from lung inflammation • Increased asthma attacks • Loss of biodiversity, habitats and ecosystem services • Land degradation • Economic losses anddisruptions to livelihoodswithhigh rehabilitation costs • Displacement of people and communities • Death or injury through direct or indirect health impacts, e.g. respiratory health problems • Death and injury • Economic and livelihood losses • Widespread impacts on socioeconomic systems, hydrology and ecosystems • Possible dam breaches causing flooding downstream • Risk to hydropower plants, irrigation infrastructures, drainage systems and municipal and industrial water supplies • Economic losses for mountain communities reliant on snow-based tourism • Loss of ecosystems dependent on current snow dynamics

Heatwaves

Wildfires

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs)

• Reliance of tourism economy on dramatic mountainous setting, including snow cover

Reduced snow cover

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