The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, often referred to as the “Water Towers of Asia,” is at the forefront of climate change, experiencing faster warming than the global average. Climate change has negatively impacted the lives and livelihoods of 240 million people both from mountains and downstream communities.

To help countries respond effectively to national climate commitments through stronger monitoring and reporting, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat have joined forces to support the implementation of the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) under the Paris Agreement.

ETF is a cornerstone of the Paris Agreement, supporting countries in building trust, enhancing climate action, and monitoring progress toward their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). The NDCs reflect each country’s efforts to reduce national emissions, while the NAPs spell the countries’ strategies in adapting to the effects of changing climate.

The collaboration aims to strengthen national capacities for climate reporting, foster knowledge sharing, and promote regional cooperation.

Objectives

The transparency hub aims to provide sustained, comprehensive capacity building, and promote data and experience sharing across the HKH region, enabling participating countries to better support national decision-makers, investors, and stakeholders in:

accelerating mitigation and adaptation action

through improved evidence, shared lessons, and practical solutions that strengthen low-emission, climate-resilient development.

implementing the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF)

under the Paris Agreement, thereby building mutual trust and confidence.

The hub will help countries use the ETF as a tool to:

demonstrate NDC progress, identify what strategies work to deliver the commitments, refine future NDCs, and clarify needs for additional support.
unlock opportunities and networks to access financial, technological, and capacity building support aligned with national priorities.
enable peer learning, fostering new relationships, collaboration, and collective problem-solving.

As a regional technical assistance centre, the hub will:

strengthen human and institutional capacity to generate, manage, and report transparent climate information.
build a regional expert network through working groups, trainings, and peer-to-peer exchanges.
develop and disseminate technical guidance and tools, tailored to country needs.
support resource mobilisation for enhanced climate action.
coordinate transparency-related support, ensuring alignment with existing initiatives and avoiding duplication.

A key feature of the initiative is the establishment of a regional knowledge hub, that will provide

Resources and tools in transparency reporting

Opportunities for peer learning and knowledge exchanges on climate transparency

Platform for transparency reporting networking activities among the HKH countries and beyond

By the end of the first phase of the project (2025-2028), it is expected that the countries of the HKH region will have an operational knowledge hub, enhanced technical capacities, and a vibrant community dedicated to transparent and sustainable climate reporting.

Implementing partner

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Focal persons

Kunzang

Lead, Global Advocacy
Strategic group regional action and global advocacy
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Pradyumna Rana

Intervention manager, Global engagement
Strategic group regional action and global advocacy
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ICIMOD partners with UN Climate Change to strengthen region’s climate action and ambition

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, also known as UN Climate Change) today (24 June) signed a three-year memorandum of understanding to strengthen climate action in the countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayas.