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Strategic Group: Climate and Environmental Risks & Action Area: Cryosphere and Water
Virtual
10 December 2025
Time: 11:45 AM – 2:15 PM (Nepal, UTC: 5:45)
Organizers: ICIMOD, Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) are hosting a virtual media forum to strengthen journalists’ understanding of glacial melt across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region (HKH) and in Central and West Asia.
The forum will feature leading climate and sustainable development experts to unpack the latest research on the rapid melting of glaciers and its far-reaching impacts on people and infrastructure in mountains and river basins. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of both the science and the human stories behind the cryosphere change.
The forum will also explore practical mitigation and adaptation strategies, including efforts such as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation in 2025, Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences, and the growing calls for greater investment in mountain regions.
In addition, senior media practitioners will share insights on covering glacier-related stories with accuracy, depth, and impact. Such guidance from senior media professionals will provide a strong base for translating complex science into compelling narratives that can raise public awareness and support climate action.
The sessions will be delivered in English with simultaneous translation for Russian-speaking attendees.
This opportunity is open to journalists who are interested in expanding their knowledge of glacier-related issues in this region and connecting with experts. If you would like to join, please write to: Johanna Camille (Jam) S. Cayco, Associate Communications Officer, ADB and/or Neraz Tuladhar, Media Officer, ICIMOD to register your interest.
Arun Bhakta Shrestha is a leading voice on climate and environmental risks in the world’s most critical mountain systems. With a career dedicated to the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, he brings a unique blend of scientific expertise, innovative field application, and strategic policy insight to the global stage.
Mohd. Farooq Azam is currently serving as a Senior Cryosphere Specialist and Intervention Manager at ICIMOD. Dr. Azam has dedicated his research to understanding the complex dynamics of the Hindu Kush Himalaya’s glaciers and their vital role in regional hydrology.
Avishek Malla is the Energy specialist/Intervention manager at ICIMOD. With over 16 years of professional experience is a seasoned leader in the field of international development, demonstrating proven expertise in the strategic management and implementation of complex multi-million-dollar programmes in the field of renewable energy.
Miriam Jackson is a senior glaciologist with extensive experience working across the Himalayas, Arctic and the Antarctic. She specialises in glacier monitoring, climate impacts and high mountain hazards. Dr. Jackson served as a lead author for the IPCC special report on the ocean and cryosphere, contributing critical insights on high mountain climate risks.
Paavan Mathema is the Bureau Chief of Agence France-Presse (AFP) in Kathmandu. A multimedia journalist with more than a decade of experience, she reports on a range of issues including politics, climate change, human rights, and natural disasters. Her work often highlights how melting glaciers, shifting weather patterns, and rising, climate change driven, disease risks affect vulnerable mountain communities.
Chris Dickinson is the Co-Team Leader for the design of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Glaciers to Farms program in Central and West Asia and serves as a Senior Climate Change Specialist at ADB. He brings extensive expertise from his previous role as Senior Specialist and Lead in Ecosystems Management at the Green Climate Fund (GCF), where he helped shape innovative strategies and develop impactful ecosystem-focused climate investments. With over 25 years of experience across Asia and Africa, Chris focuses his career on tackling urgent environmental and climate challenges.
Saurav KC is a Senior Project Officer at the Asian Development Bank’s Nepal Resident Mission. He leads water resources management initiatives like the Priority River Basins Flood Risk Management Project and the Irrigation Modernization Enhancement Project. Currently, he is the project team leader for the Building Adaptation and Resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalayas-Bhutan and Nepal (BARHKH) initiative focusing on enhancing climate and disaster risk management systems.
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