Cryosphere Services to Advance the National SDG Priorities in Himalaya-Karakoram Region

Abstract

The cryosphere in the Himalaya-Karakoram (H-K) is widespread, and its services significantly affect the SDGs implementation in the region, in particular related to the ‘No poverty’ (SDG 1), ‘zero hunger’ (SDG 2), ‘good health and well-being’ (SDG 3), ‘work and economic’ (SDG 8) and ‘partnership for the goals’ (SDG 17). We here established the networks to illustrate the complex relationship of cryosphere services with national SDG priorities in the countries of H-K, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, Nepal and Bhutan. The cryosphere services contributing to the national SDG priorities and the key targets were elucidated in line with the centralities of the network. It was found that ‘freshwater’, ‘clean energy’, ‘runoff regulation’, ‘climate regulation’, ‘research and education’ and ‘infrastructure and engineering’ are the services that play critical roles in H-K, and they were then applied to assess the impact of cryosphere services on the national SDG priorities. We subsequently identified a set of principal indicators in relation to the key targets of national SDG priorities, which has the explanation up to 85% of six entry points (SEPs) to advance SDGs of each country in H-K. In conjunction with the centrality of the key targets to be contributed by the overall cryosphere services in the network for each country, the dependency of SEPs on the cryosphere services can be established through principal indicators in association with the national SDG priorities in H-K countries.

Chapter 4: Effects of a changing cryosphere on biodiversity and ecosystem services, and response options in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

“…In fact, ecosystem services contribute to the direct attainment of 12 SDGs in Nepal (Adhikari et al, 2022). Similarly, numerous cryosphere services, mainly, provision of freshwater, climate regulation, habitat for biodiversity, and run-off regulation have been found to be critical in promoting multiple goals including agricultural development (SDG 2), eradication of extreme poverty (SDG 1), conservation of terrestrial biodiversity (SDG 15), economic growth (SDG 8), access to clean drinking water (SDG 6), and renewable energy (SDG 7) in Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, and Pakistan (Zhang et al, 2022). Cultural services, including traditional ecological knowledge and practices, also indirectly contribute to multiple SDGs in the region.…”

“…Cultural services, including traditional ecological knowledge and practices, also indirectly contribute to multiple SDGs in the region. For example, spiritual and religious values, indigenous culture, and aesthetic and recreational values of the high mountains that are part of mountain tourism contribute to sustainable tourism and income generation (SDG 1), improving food security (SDG 2) and improving health and wellbeing (SDG 3) (Zhang et al, 2022) (see Chapter 5, section 5.3).…”

Key Pathways to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals in Three Polar Regions

“…In recent years, relevant research on the sustainable development of the TPR has focused mainly on the following aspects: (1) assessment of the realization of SDGs by Polar countries or regions (mainly involving European Arctic countries) [10]; (2) the interaction of the SDGs among Polar countries or regions [11]; and (3) the correlation and cascading effects between Polar cryosphere elements and sustainable development [12][13][14]. According to existing studies, the current SDGs do not reflect a sufficient understanding of the TPR, and corresponding sustainable development indicators should be added according to the special conditions of the TPR [15].…”