First annual meeting of HKH CryoHub

Organizer: Cryosphere

About the event

The first annual meeting of the HKH CryoHub marks a decisive step in transforming the platform from an outreach initiative into a fully functional regional scientific network.

Building on the outcomes of stakeholder consultations held on 14–15 December 2023 and 20–21 August 2024, the meeting will formalise the HKH CryoHub’s governance, launch Thematic working Groups (TwGs), and set a clear path for collaborative research and outreach in the region.

Objectives

• Approve the proposed HKH CryoHub structure, including the formation of TwGs
• Operationalise the TWGs by finalising Terms of Reference and establishing working mechanisms
• Identify priority research areas for each TWG, with deliverables aligned to IYGP 2025 messages
• Develop a comprehensive HKH regional research plan in line with the Decade of Action for the Cryosphere (2025- 2034)
• Explore sustainable funding pathways to support TwG activities
• Strengthen science communication and outreach.

Meeting attendees

The meeting will convene:

• TwG members from key regional institutions
• Leading international cryosphere scientists contributing expertise and perspectives
• Regional and international partners committed to advancing cryosphere research in the HKH
• Stakeholders engaged in glaciers, snow, permafrost, and hazard-related research, policy, and community action

Together, these participants will shape a shared scientific agenda, strengthen regional cooperation, and drive evidence-based action for the HKH cryosphere.

Organised by Cryosphere and Water under the Climate and Environmental Risks, with generous support from the Government of Norway and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), this meeting will lay the foundation for inclusive, regionally led collaboration on cryosphere science in the HKH.

Background

Under the previous Medium-Term Action Plan (MTAP), the HKH CryoHub primarily served as a digital outreach platform, connecting cryosphere scientists and stakeholders worldwide. It delivered capacity-building workshops, profiled early-career researchers, and expanded access to regional cryosphere data. While impactful, consultations highlighted the need for the hub to evolve into a coordinated scientific network—a transition proposed at the outset of MTAP V.
The CryoHub under MTAP V will:

• Serve as a regional knowledge agency providing a consolidated view of cryosphere research and challenges
• Actively promote the participation and leadership of women scientists, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and other under-represented groups
• Develop actionable, inclusive solutions to address urgent cryospheric issues
• Facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange among scientists, policymakers, and communities

Aligned with the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP) and the Decade of Action for the Cryosphere, the HKH CryoHub will catalyse regionally driven research, define priority actions, and inform socially responsive policies to safeguard the HKH cryosphere. It will also enhance the region’s presence in global forums such as the International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS) and the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS).