The Himalayas and surrounding high mountains are often called the “Third Pole” because they hold the largest ice reserves outside the Arctic and Antarctic.

The term highlights their critical role in global water and climate systems. However, the region spans multiple countries with disputed borders, and there is no shared governance framework, making the term politically and geostrategically sensitive.

What is the Third Pole?

The Urgency of Protecting the Third Pole

Climate change is unfolding fastest and most visibly in the Earth’s cryosphere, the frozen regions of the planet, from polar ice sheets to high mountain glaciers. These areas are already warming at twice the global average, and as a result, fragile ecosystems and local communities are being disrupted, with glaciers retreating and permafrost melting beneath our feet.

The greatest danger, however, extends far beyond these frozen landscapes. Melting ice and snow contribute to rising sea levels, shrinking freshwater supplies, acidifying polar seas, and massive carbon releases from thawing permafrost, amplifying global warming and its impacts worldwide.

Many of these changes cannot be reversed, even if temperatures are later reduced. The only viable path is to prevent further warming. Protecting the cryosphere is therefore not just about safeguarding the mountains or polar regions it is about protecting life across the planet.

What can we do to preserve glaciers?

Simple enough: reduce greenhouse gas emissions and so curb global warming.

Reaching Net Zero really does matter.

Our Work

The Third Pole Climate Nexus transforms knowledge into action by integrating science, policy, and community engagement across one of the world’s most climate-sensitive regions. High-mountain Asia is warming at more than twice the global average, and the Himalayas are projected to lose up to 75% of their glaciers by 2100 under current emissions trends. This directly affects nearly 2 billion people who rely on Himalayan freshwater systems. Against this backdrop, our work focuses on practical, evidence-based solutions that strengthen resilience on the ground while informing decision-making at all levels.

Our first flagship project, Beyond Records, is an immersive documentary and research expedition across the Himalayas. It explores how climate change is reshaping glaciers, freshwater sources, and mountain communities through a combination of field observation, participatory engagement, and storytelling. Beyond Records is designed to generate actionable insights for policymakers, support adaptation strategies for local communities, and raise public awareness of the urgent climate challenges facing the region.

As the project progresses, we are preparing to expand our activities to include community-led adaptation initiatives, scientific monitoring programmes, and policy engagement efforts that bring local perspectives into national and international climate discussions. By grounding our work in both scientific evidence and lived experience, we aim to ensure that the realities of high-mountain communities are reflected in the solutions built for the future.

We are also clear that the foundation of all long-term climate solutions lies in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. This means rapidly phasing down fossil fuel use in line with IPCC recommendations: a 50% reduction by 2030, net-zero by 2050, and net-negative emissions thereafter to remain within the 1.5°C threshold of the Paris Agreement. Every fraction of a degree matters. Limiting warming will reduce future loss and damage for generations to come and a 1.5°C future remains achievable, if we choose to act in time.

Through all our initiatives, The Third Pole Climate Nexus seeks to bridge the gap between what is happening in the field and what needs to happen in policy, demonstrating that clear knowledge and compelling storytelling can help drive meaningful action for the Himalayas and the millions who depend on them.

Media & Updates

Explore our latest media, interviews, and field updates from the Himalayas.