11 December 2009: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP), together with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO), has released a study on climate-induced extreme droughts and floods risks in the Himalayas. The study, titled “Local Responses to Too Much and Too Little Water in the Greater Himalayan Region” is based on the work of five field teams in China, India, Pakistan and Nepal who looked at the realities facing mountain populations and hundreds of millions people downstream.
The case studies document many creative responses to water stress and hazards, but show that these need to be aligned with other processes if they are to be successful, even over a short period. The report stresses the need for governments to prioritize the development and improvement of national and regional policies to provide better support for local adaptation against a more extreme climate, helping to shift planning from acute survival towards long-term resilience.[UNEP Press Release][The Study]