Climate change is affecting the temperatures, amount of snow and ice in the Himalayan region as well as rainfall patterns in the densely populated downstream regions of Asia which would have enormous significance for livelihood and wellbeing of the people of the region. There is a need to prepare the people, institutions and countries of the region to anticipate the consequences of climate change and evolve suitable and cost-effective adaptation responses. However, there is inadequate availability of information on these processes of change making it both difficult to plan appropriate responses and create public opinion in favour of drastic actions that are needed to address the issues.