India, March 21 -- Glaciers across the globe are rapidly thinning, with those in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region experiencing the most dramatic losses due to climate change - retreating 65 per cent faster in 2011-2020 than in the previous decade, according to a new United Nations report released on the World Day for Glaciers.

The Asia-Pacific region is home to some of the world's highest mountains and most extensive glacier systems - and is among the most vulnerable to climate change. Spanning five million square kilometres of high mountains, the region contains approximately 100,000 km2 of glaciers.

Often referred to as the "Third Pole" or the "Water Tower of Asia", this region stores more ice and snow than anywhere else on Earth ...