US State Department Hosts Tibet Environmental Forum
[Wednesday, 9 March 2011, 10:21 p.m.]
| US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake/Getty Images |
WASHINGTON,
DC: The State Department held a Tibet Environmental Forum yesterday
participated by representatives of organisations in the United States
that undertake developmental work in Tibet. The Forum was convened by
the office of the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues in the State
Department.
DC: The State Department held a Tibet Environmental Forum yesterday
participated by representatives of organisations in the United States
that undertake developmental work in Tibet. The Forum was convened by
the office of the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues in the State
Department.
The
Assistant Secretary for South Asia, Mr Robert Blake, put the spotlight
on the impacts of glacier melt in Tibet triggered by climate change on
the lives of billions of peoples across Asia.
Assistant Secretary for South Asia, Mr Robert Blake, put the spotlight
on the impacts of glacier melt in Tibet triggered by climate change on
the lives of billions of peoples across Asia.
“The
Himalayan glaciers in the Tibetan plateau provide fresh water for over
1.5 billion people across Asia. The glaciers feed nine river basins,
including the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra, which support thousands of
communities, villages and cities across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India,
Nepal and Bangladesh,” Mr Blake said at the forum.
Himalayan glaciers in the Tibetan plateau provide fresh water for over
1.5 billion people across Asia. The glaciers feed nine river basins,
including the Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra, which support thousands of
communities, villages and cities across Afghanistan, Pakistan, India,
Nepal and Bangladesh,” Mr Blake said at the forum.
“But
climate change and pollutants like black carbon, have put many
Himalayan glaciers in retreat, and some will certainly be lost by the
end of this century. Glacial retreat impacts water supplies to millions
of people, increases the likelihood of outburst floods that destroy
life and property, and contributes to rising sea levels, which threaten
coastal communities. As glaciers become smaller, water runoff
decreases, which is especially important during the dry season when
other water sources are limited. Climate change also brings warmer
temperatures and earlier water runoff from glaciers. This combined with
spring and summer rains can increase the chance of flooding,” he added.
climate change and pollutants like black carbon, have put many
Himalayan glaciers in retreat, and some will certainly be lost by the
end of this century. Glacial retreat impacts water supplies to millions
of people, increases the likelihood of outburst floods that destroy
life and property, and contributes to rising sea levels, which threaten
coastal communities. As glaciers become smaller, water runoff
decreases, which is especially important during the dry season when
other water sources are limited. Climate change also brings warmer
temperatures and earlier water runoff from glaciers. This combined with
spring and summer rains can increase the chance of flooding,” he added.
Mr
Blake further said water is critical to health and development across
South Asia. “But the growing scarcity of water can also exacerbate
existing border disputes, making proper management of this scarce
resource even more critical,” he said.
Blake further said water is critical to health and development across
South Asia. “But the growing scarcity of water can also exacerbate
existing border disputes, making proper management of this scarce
resource even more critical,” he said.
“My
bureau [Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs], working together
with Under Secretary Otero and the Bureau of Oceans, Environment and
Science, is developing programs and partnerships with governments in
the region to promote the deployment of clean, low-carbon energy
technology – which often reduces the consumption of water by the power
sector – and to reduce emissions of black carbon from cement plants,”
Mr Blake said.
bureau [Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs], working together
with Under Secretary Otero and the Bureau of Oceans, Environment and
Science, is developing programs and partnerships with governments in
the region to promote the deployment of clean, low-carbon energy
technology – which often reduces the consumption of water by the power
sector – and to reduce emissions of black carbon from cement plants,”
Mr Blake said.
“We
are also working to foster transboundary cooperation and improve water
management systems. Through our efforts we aim to conserve this
important resource and improve the lives of millions of South Asians.
Your work in the plateau is a vital piece of this effort,” he added.
are also working to foster transboundary cooperation and improve water
management systems. Through our efforts we aim to conserve this
important resource and improve the lives of millions of South Asians.
Your work in the plateau is a vital piece of this effort,” he added.
“Experts
predict that by 2025 nearly two-thirds of the world’s countries will be
water-stressed – which is defined as demand for water exceeding
availability, or when poor quality water restricts its use. This
problem is even more pressing in Asia. India, for example, is expected
to be water stressed by 2020, just nine years from now, which could
limit the growth of India’s economy and global standing. To address
India’s growing water crisis, our embassy in New Delhi hosted a forum
last week entitled “Water Issues in India: Opportunities and
Challenges.” More than 110 government, NGO, academic and corporate
representatives met to discuss and prioritize actions needed to advance
practical solutions. Topics ranged from traditional methods of water
harvesting to financing infrastructure and public private
partnerships,” he said.
predict that by 2025 nearly two-thirds of the world’s countries will be
water-stressed – which is defined as demand for water exceeding
availability, or when poor quality water restricts its use. This
problem is even more pressing in Asia. India, for example, is expected
to be water stressed by 2020, just nine years from now, which could
limit the growth of India’s economy and global standing. To address
India’s growing water crisis, our embassy in New Delhi hosted a forum
last week entitled “Water Issues in India: Opportunities and
Challenges.” More than 110 government, NGO, academic and corporate
representatives met to discuss and prioritize actions needed to advance
practical solutions. Topics ranged from traditional methods of water
harvesting to financing infrastructure and public private
partnerships,” he said.
“In
January, our South Asia regional environment hub, based out of Embassy
Kathmandu, partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to host the Eastern
Himalayas Regional Workshop on Forests and Climate Change. Forests in
the Eastern Himalayas provide livelihoods for millions of people.
Participants from Nepal, Bhutan and India all affirmed that climate
change impacts the entire region, and they stressed that information
sharing on snowfall and glacial melt trends is crucial to managing the
region’s forests. In Nepal, our USAID and NASA colleagues have also
partnered to establish an earth observation monitoring and
visualization system for the Himalayas. This system will provide a
clearer picture of water supply and demand for the region and
facilitate efforts to adapt to climate change,” he added.
January, our South Asia regional environment hub, based out of Embassy
Kathmandu, partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to host the Eastern
Himalayas Regional Workshop on Forests and Climate Change. Forests in
the Eastern Himalayas provide livelihoods for millions of people.
Participants from Nepal, Bhutan and India all affirmed that climate
change impacts the entire region, and they stressed that information
sharing on snowfall and glacial melt trends is crucial to managing the
region’s forests. In Nepal, our USAID and NASA colleagues have also
partnered to establish an earth observation monitoring and
visualization system for the Himalayas. This system will provide a
clearer picture of water supply and demand for the region and
facilitate efforts to adapt to climate change,” he added.
Mr
Blake lauded the efforts being made under the leadership of Under
Secretary Maria Otero, the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, and
at the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs towards the
conservation of glaciers in Tibet. “Your work on preserving the culture
and environment of the Tibetan Plateau is key to all of our efforts. I
look forward to finding ways to coordinate and collaborate on our
mutual efforts. Thank you, Maria Otero, for your leadership and for
inviting me to say a few words about the importance of the Tibetan
Plateau, and how we in the SCA bureau are attempting to mitigate
the impacts of glacier melt across the region,” he said.
Blake lauded the efforts being made under the leadership of Under
Secretary Maria Otero, the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, and
at the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs towards the
conservation of glaciers in Tibet. “Your work on preserving the culture
and environment of the Tibetan Plateau is key to all of our efforts. I
look forward to finding ways to coordinate and collaborate on our
mutual efforts. Thank you, Maria Otero, for your leadership and for
inviting me to say a few words about the importance of the Tibetan
Plateau, and how we in the SCA bureau are attempting to mitigate
the impacts of glacier melt across the region,” he said.
“Let
me also extend my thanks to all of you here today for your important
work preserving Tibetan culture, religion and environment, as well as
your assistance to Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal,” he added.
me also extend my thanks to all of you here today for your important
work preserving Tibetan culture, religion and environment, as well as
your assistance to Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal,” he added.
