TED Talks Daily The world's "Third Pole" is melting away. Here's how we can stop it from disappearing | Tshering Tobgay
Jul 25, 2019
In this insightful conversation, Tshering Tobgay, an environmentalist and former Prime Minister of Bhutan, discusses the alarming melting of glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. He highlights that a third of these glaciers could disappear by century's end, risking catastrophic flooding for nearly two billion people. Tobgay advocates for global cooperation and the establishment of a new agency to protect these vital water sources, emphasizing the urgent need for action to mitigate climate change and safeguard livelihoods.
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Underwater Cabinet Meeting
- In 2009, Maldives' President Nasheed held a cabinet meeting underwater to warn about rising sea levels.
- Tshering Tobgay, then Bhutan's Prime Minister, saw this as a political stunt and didn't worry much.
Everest Cabinet Meeting
- Nepal's Prime Minister held a cabinet meeting on Mount Everest to highlight melting glaciers.
- Tobgay, initially unconcerned, dismissed this as another political stunt.
Glacier Melt Report
- A report revealed one-third of Himalayan glaciers could melt by 2100, even if warming is limited to 1.5°C.
- This concerned Tobgay, as it suggested greater vulnerability than he'd imagined.