HKH region

Question 1

What percentage of the world’s population resides in Asia?

Answer 1

About 66%.

Question 2

What percentage of global water consumption occurs in Asia?

Answer 2

Approximately 59%.

Question 3

What percentage of the world’s land area is occupied by South Asia?

Answer 3

Just 3%.

Question 4

What share of the world’s population lives in South Asia?

Answer 4

About 25%.

Question 5

Which four countries in South Asia are home to 40% of the world’s poor?

Answer 5

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

Question 6

What proportion of South Asia’s population is food-energy deficient?

Answer 6

Over 50%.

Question 7

What percentage of South Asia’s population lacks access to safe drinking water?

Answer 7

About 20%.

Question 8

How many people depend on ecosystem services from the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region?

Answer 8

Approximately 1.3 billion.

Question 9

Between 1950 and 2010, how did South Asia’s population change?

Answer 9

It almost tripled.

Question 10

Which two staple crops supply up to half of South Asia’s food energy but are highly water-dependent?

Answer 10

Rice and wheat.

Question 11

Approximately how many tonnes of water are needed to produce 1 tonne of rice?

Answer 11

Up to 1,000 tonnes.

Question 12

Name three key ecosystem services provided by the HKH region.

Answer 12

Irrigation water, hydroelectric power and drinking water.

Question 13

List four environmental issues affecting the HKH region.

Answer 13

Deforestation, land degradation, soil erosion and overgrazing.

Question 14

What flood risk has increased in the HKH region due to soil erosion?

Answer 14

The frequency and severity of flooding.

Question 15

By how much must food production in South Asia increase in the next 25 years to meet nutritional needs?

Answer 15

It needs to double.

Question 16

By what percentage must agricultural production increase by 2050?

Answer 16

About 70%.

Question 17

By what percentage must energy production increase by 2050?

Answer 17

About 40%.

Question 18

By what percentage must water withdrawals increase by 2050?

Answer 18

About 57%.

Question 19

What proportion of the world’s undernourished population lives in South Asia?

Answer 19

About 35%.

Question 20

What proportion of the world’s poor lives in South Asia?

Answer 20

Approximately 46%.

Question 21

By what percentage is annual water demand in South Asia predicted to increase compared to 2005?

Answer 21

Around 55%.

Question 22

What percentage of agricultural production in South Asia relies on groundwater irrigation?

Answer 22

About 70–80%.

Question 23

What percentage of South Asia’s population lacks access to electricity?

Answer 23

About 63%.

Question 24

What percentage of people in South Asia use biomass for cooking?

Answer 24

About 65%.

Question 25

What integrated approach is used to manage water, food and energy together?

Answer 25

The water-food-energy nexus approach.

Question 26

Why is the nexus approach critical for South Asia?

Answer 26

Because food, water and energy challenges are interrelated and must be managed in an integrated way.

Question 27

What upstream–downstream linkage exists in the HKH-South Asia system?

Answer 27

Downstream communities depend on upstream HKH water for irrigation, hydropower and domestic use.

Question 28

What challenge does a declining groundwater table pose in South Asia?

Answer 28

It requires increased energy for groundwater pumping.

Question 29

How do changing dietary preferences impact water resources in South Asia?

Answer 29

Meat production requires about 7 kg of grain—and thus more water—to produce 1 kg of meat.

Question 30

What climate change impacts threaten HKH water supply?

Answer 30

Accelerated glacial melt, erratic monsoon rainfall and increased evapotranspiration.