ICIMOD’s participation in the ice peak forum on current status of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and cryosphere in China and climate action

Agenda

About the event

The Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, and the Ministry of Water Resources are organizing the Ice Peak Forum on “Status of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Cryosphere in China and Climate Action” at the Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment in Chengdu between 16 and 17 April 2024.

The event is in line with ICIMOD’s Action Area A: Managing Cryosphere and Water Risks under Strategic Group (SG) 1: Reducing Climate and Environment Risks. It will bring together key institutions in China working on cryosphere, climate change, biodiversity, and pollution.

The forum will convene hundreds of participants which include climate and cryosphere students, scientists, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from China. In addition, Honourable Dr. Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister, Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MOEE) of the People’s Republic of China is expected to grace the forum’s inaugural session.

Pema Gyamtsho, Director General from ICIMOD will give an expert talk highlighting the climate and cryosphere crisis in the Third Pole region and its implications on biodiversity, ecosystems, and mountain communities.  In addition, Gyamtsho will attend the media roundtable and meet with Chinese officials to seek collaborations on climate action. During the forum, Babar Khan, Regional Cooperation and Collaboration Coordinator will present ICIMOD’s ongoing work on climate and the cryosphere at the forum and share ICIMOD’s approach to fostering regional cooperation to address the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution in the HKH (Hindu Kush Himalaya) region.

In the lead-up to this year’s COP, an event titled COP29 Youth Glacier & Climate Change Scientific Expedition will be held to showcase the ongoing efforts of the youth. ICIMOD’s Feng Yuan, Communications Specialist, as well as Glaciologists- Sonam Wangchuk, and Sunwi Maskey will join the COP29 youth field expedition to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Objectives

• Stress the importance of a regional approach to address the crises of rapid climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution in China, and opportunities to scale in the broader HKH region.
• Engage with new partners for future collaboration on mountain-related issues.
• Explore opportunities in harnessing China’s leadership support to address the region’s rapidly increasing climate and cryosphere crisis.

Expected outcomes

• Greater recognition of ICIMOD’s role in addressing the climate and cryosphere crisis in the Third Pole region and identified joint areas of cooperation under MTAPV to manage the climate and cryosphere crisis in China and other HKH countries.
• Enhanced engagement with MoEE for the upcoming Ministerial Mountain Summit.

Expected participants

This Forum will include representatives from the Chinese Government, national institutions related to cryosphere, climate and cryosphere students, scientists, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

Background

The HKH and Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, also known as the Third Pole, is the source of freshwater to Asia’s twelve major rivers. These rivers produce food and services for nearly a quarter of humanity living in the mountains and river basins downstream. However, rapidly rising temperatures have significant impacts on the cryosphere across the region, as well as the entire mountain ecology- ice, glaciers, permafrost, and snow in the highlands of China and its adjoining countries.

In the wake of this crisis, the Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, and the Ministry of Water Resources are organizing the Ice Peak Forum on “Status of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Cryosphere in China and Climate Action” at the Chengdu Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment in Chengdu between 16 and 17 April 2024.

Through these meetings, ICIMOD aims to reinvigorate existing partnerships and seek avenues for establishing new collaborations with relevant partners and key areas aligned with ICIMOD’s Strategic Group on: Reducing Climate and Environment Risks for 2024 and beyond.

Special thanks to:

Sichuan Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment

Department of Ecology and Environment of Tibet Autonomous Region

Department of Ecology and Environment, Qinghai Province

People’s Government of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province

Northwest Institute of Ecological Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences

International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

International River and Ecological Security Research Institute, Yunnan University

China University of Geosciences (Beijing)

China Scientific Exploration Association

Alpine Ecosystem Observation and Experiment Station of Mt. Gongga, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Hailuogou Management Committee of Ganzi Xizang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province

Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP (Special General Partnership)

Swiss Emile Chouriet Watch

iLab Extreme Sports Skin Care

Mengniu Group

Beijing Baxi Ice Cream Company

ICIMOD Delegation

1. Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD – Head of Delegation
2. Babar Khan, Coordinator, Regional Cooperation & Collaboration, ICIMOD
3. Sonam Wangchuk and Sunwi Maskey, Glaciologists, ICIMOD
4. Feng Yuan, Communication Specialist, ICIMOD