Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

This paper reviews the literature on the potential biophysical and economic impacts of climate change in the Himalayas. Existing observations indicate that the temperature is rising at a higher rate in Nepal and Chinese regions of the Himalayas compared with rest of the Himalayas. A declining trend of monsoon in the western Indian Himalayas and an increasing trend in the eastern Indian Himalayas have been observed, whereas increasing precipitation and stream flow in many parts of Tibetan Plateau are noted. Glaciers in both the eastern and western Himalayas are mostly retreating, but the majority of the glaciers in Karakorum are either stable or advancing slowly. Expansion of glacier lakes is reported, with the highest rate in Nepal and Bhutan. Most literature predicts increases in temperature and monsoon precipitations and decreases in winter precipitations in the future thereby leading to monsoon flooding and increased sediments in stream flow. Available hydrological simulations indicate reduced rainfall and shrinkage of glacier thereby leading to shortage of water supply for power generation and irrigation in winter particularly in highly glaciated basins. Projected economic impacts of glacial lake outburst floods can be substantial on the developed river basin with infrastructures and population centers. However, there is a clear gap in knowledge of economic impacts of climate change in the Himalayas.

Climate change --- Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases --- Ecosystems and Natural Habitats --- Energy --- Environment --- Global Environment Facility --- Himalayas --- Impacts of climate change --- Regional Economic Development --- Science of Climate Change

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

This paper uses district level data to estimate the general relationship between climate, income and life expectancy in Peru. The analysis finds that both incomes and life expectancy show hump-shaped relationships, with optimal average annual temperatures around 18-20 Degree Celsius. These estimated relationships were used to simulate the likely effects of both past (1958-2008) and future (2008-2058) climate change. At the aggregate level, future climate change in Peru is estimated to cause a small reduction in average life expectancy of about 0.2 years. This average, however, hides much larger losses in the already hot areas as well as substantial gains in currently cold areas. Similarly, the average impact on incomes is a modest reduction of 2.3 percent, but with some districts experiencing losses of up to 20 percent and others gains of up to 13 percent. Future climate change is estimated to cause an increase in poverty (all other things equal), but to have no significant effect on the distribution of incomes.

Climate --- Climate Change Economics --- Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases --- Climates --- Daily temperature --- Effect of temperature --- Environment --- Excessive rainfall --- Extreme events --- Future Climate Change --- Global temperatures --- Health, Nutrition and Population --- Impacts of Climate Change --- Macroeconomics and Economic Growth --- Meteorological stations --- Ocean currents --- Ocean temperatures --- Population Policies --- Science and Technology Development --- Science of Climate Change --- Scientific evidence --- Temperature --- Temperature anomalies --- Temperature anomaly --- Temperature changes --- Temperature increases --- Temperature variations --- Temperatures