A tale of the receding Himalayan glaciers: China’s and India’s response against Black Carbon

In a world reeling towards the global environmental catastrophe of climate change, melting glaciers are commonly seen as a sign of impending doom. While the word ‘glacier’ is often associated with the polar regions, the Greater Himalayan Region (GHR) glaciers, which support over 20 per cent of the world’s population, are often forgotten. In addition to global warming, the glaciers in the GHR are suffering from the deposition of Black Carbon (BC), which is well-known for accelerating the melting of glaciers and is believed to be the single biggest factor causing the melt of the GHR glaciers. China and India, the two biggest BC emitters worldwide, contribute the most to the BC deposition in the GHR due to their proximity to the region. As the GHR glaciers recede at an unprecedented rate, this article critically analyses and compares the measures of China and India to curb their BC emissions. Further, the article evaluates the multi-lateral regional response against the crisis of BC in the region.