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Podcast Episode

Melting Himalayas? Nepal disaster exposes growing risk of glacial flooding

The Debate··1 September 2026·43 min

About this episode

It may well be one of the tragic consequences of global warming. Scientists will tell us whether receding glaciers are to blame for last Wednesday’s ice shelf collapse that triggered a catastrophic flood, cascading down more than 3,000 metres from the Chinese border into Nepal. We get the latest and draw consequences for Nepal and its Himalayan superpower neighbours China and India, and for the rest of humanity, as we gauge rescue and recovery in an area that not only boasts the world's tallest mountains but also serves as Asia's water tower. How do we prepare for the next big emergency and the drastic long-term changes to our natural habitats? Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Daniel Whittington, Juliette Brown, Charles Wente.