Avalanche risks are rising—researchers say governance must rise with them

Findings from a new paper show that governance and preparedness rather than the magnitude of risk determine whether avalanches become mass-casualty events. As large glacial rock avalanches become more common as the steep slopes of the Himalayas become unstable due to rapid glacier retreat, extreme precipitation and permafrost degradation, scientists believe that saving lives, protecting infrastructure and reducing long-term economic losses in some of the world’s most risk-prone regions could be achieved through several practical measures.