Geopolitics and Ecology of Himalayan Water
About Us
The Geopolitics and Ecology of Himalayan Water is a new project of the eARThumanities at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) in collaboration with the Rachel Carson Center, LMU Munich. As the climate crisis worsens, a vast swath of Asian countries for which the Himalayan water supply constitutes the most important lifeline, are faced with mounting insecurity. The scramble for uninterrupted access to ample fresh-water supplies is increasingly triggering a geopolitical dispute among the continent’s strongest powers, eroding interstate cooperation. This initiative also aspires to become a teaching lab for making interdisciplinary connections and drawing parallels across a wide range of human-environment problems. Areas of research will cover history, science, engineering, data, geopolitics, anthropology, food security, film, policy design, writing, etc. and advance the agenda of interdisciplinary research and collaboration across the divisions at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), NYU’s Global Network University (GNU), the Rachel Carson Center and other important international institutions.
Central Nepal flood, the day after
Satellite images show the glacial collapse on the North Face of Langtang was in Nepal itself. The following article contextualizes the current disaster in the broader disaster landscape of the region and dives deeper into the current state and causes of the central Nepal floods.
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This winter two January Term (J Term) classes explored the #environmental, #geopolitical, and #cultural implications of #ClimateChange through #ExperientialLearning in Nepal.
Resource spotlight
Rivers of the Asian Highlands delves into the intricate and multifaceted histories of Asia’s eight largest rivers, focusing on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra and Yangzi river systems. The project brought together a diverse team, including two scientists, a geographer, a political ecologist, an anthropologist, two historians, and a religious studies scholar. The book’s approach balances positivist and constructivist extremes, allowing for a rich, nuanced understanding of the rivers' histories and current challenges.
A Livable Planet: Empowering Sustainable Solutions
The Himalayan region needs a water secure future so faculty and researchers at Geopolitics and Ecology of Himalayan Water are collaborating with scholars and experts in the region to create educational resources and enable future generations to do just that.
Project Partners
