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The Call of Glaciers: Pastoral women witness changes brought by climate change

CGTN

01:11

"The climate has changed in recent years. Our lives have become somehow uncertain," said Palyang, a young Tibetan herder.

In Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, where Palyang lives, grazing and milking are part of local women's daily routine.

As one of the most sensitive areas to climate change, the plateau has experienced an average temperature rise twice as fast as the global average over the past 50 years.

Palyang said that the livestock transfer (transferring livestock to the spring and autumn pastures before winter for sustainable grazing) was delayed by a month due to drought last year. She noticed that the rivers near her home are drying up year by year, and there was almost none left this year.

Local women get water along a river in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province.
Local women get water along a river in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province.

Local women get water along a river in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province.

Local women milk yaks in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province.
Local women milk yaks in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province.

Local women milk yaks in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province.

The climate crisis is not "gender neutral," according to the United Nations. For women on the grazing front lines on the plateau, there is no escape from climate change.

Climate change is affecting the growth of grass, which in turn affects livestock breeding and eventually increases the economic burden of herders. As the weather gets drier, women have to travel farther to get water, which also creates difficulties for the majority of women who cannot drive or ride a motorcycle. What's more, the changeable weather also means that local women sometimes graze and milk in rainy and cold weather.

For more: 

Trailer: CGTN's documentary film 'The Call of Glaciers' coming soon!

One day to go for CGTN's documentary film 'The Call of Glaciers'

CGTN Environmental Documentary | The Call of Glaciers

CGTN releases documentary focusing on impact of climate change on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

(All images stills from "The Call of Glaciers," designed by CGTN's Huang Ruiqi.)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)

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