Scientists say environmental damages linked to climate change are pushing the Yellow River source region into an ecological breakdown, according to a new report commissioned by international environment group Greenpeace.
The report Yellow River at Risk - Environmental Impact Assessment on the Yellow River Source Region by Climate Change was from the Lanzhou -based Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
It describes a chain reaction of environmental impacts driven by global warming that threatens the river's source.
The scientists used the latest research on environmental changes on the Tibetan plateau to assess the impact of climatic changes in the region.
Melting glaciers and permafrost, shrinking lakes, deteriorating grassland and desertification were identified.
In the past 50 years, the climate has become warmer and drier. The rising temperatures are causing glaciers in the Yellow River source region to melt rapidly.
