ICIMOD at COP29, and at 41: bolstering our climate action for mountains and vulnerable communities

Championing mountain priorities: Director General of ICIMOD, Pema Gyamtsho speaks at COP29, emphasising actionable solutions and regional collaboration to address the urgent climate challenges of the HKH.

Today, 5th December, is ICIMOD Day – the commemoration of the formal establishment and inauguration in 1983 of the regional and international centre dedicated to the study, research and development of the mountain area of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). As ICIMOD enters its 41st year, we once more renew our commitment to further strengthen our role in supporting the HKH countries to address the significant challenges the region is facing, and reinvigorate our role as a neutral convenor and facilitator for sharing information, knowledge and sustainable policies and practices so needed in the HKH.

Of these significant planetary challenges, climate change is foremost in my mind this week, as I reflect on ICIMOD’s comprehensive involvement in the recent global climate change conference, COP29, which took place in Baku, Azerbaijan in November.

Mountains are warming at twice the global average, threatening the livelihoods of 240 million people living in the mountains and 1.65 billion people living downstream of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. At COP29, ICIMOD’s presence was strategically focused on securing tangible outcomes for the HKH region and its most climate-vulnerable communities. With escalating climate impacts, we emphasised actionable solutions, collaborative partnerships, and amplified regional voices to address both immediate and systemic climate challenges.

Throughout COP29, ICIMOD’s dedicated team worked to amplify the voices of mountain communities and countries, shared insights and solutions to global challenges, monitored key developments, forged new and strengthened existing alliances, and supported negotiators from our Regional Member Countries to bring their priorities to the global stage.

I was present at COP29 in the first week, where I engaged directly with high-level stakeholders, including negotiators, ministers, and leaders from mountain regions globally. I participated in key bilateral and multilateral meetings, presenting scientific findings to global audiences, and championing the integration of HKH priorities into the global climate framework. After my departure, I followed with keen interest, the active engagement of our team at various events and with a wide range of partners from both the HKH region and outside. These engagements contributed to strengthening ICIMOD’s position as a key advocate for mountain communities and catalysed support for urgent action.

Advancing climate finance

A central priority for ICIMOD at COP 29 was the call for increased climate finance – both in terms of volume and speed of delivery. The HKH region, home to some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable populations, requires swift access to climate finance to address pressing challenges like floods, landslides, and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs).

This COP, dubbed the ‘Finance COP,’ presented a critical opportunity to secure commitments to the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance. This goal is a post-2025 climate finance target to replace the USD 100 billion annual commitment, aiming to provide scaled-up, equitable, and accessible funding for lower- and middle-income countries to address mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage. ICIMOD is actively engaging with negotiators to ensure that these funds are directed where they are needed most in the HKH and that access to them is streamlined.

Strengthening regional cooperation

A major highlight at COP was the Heads of Delegation meeting hosted by the Honourable Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, which brought together representatives from six of the eight HKH countries. This event underscored the importance of regional collaboration to address transboundary climate challenges, such as GLOFs, air pollution, and water scarcity. There was a strong consensus among leaders for the need for coordinated action, reaffirming that no single country can tackle these issues alone.

Similarly, a high-profile dialogue on Loss and Damage, led by the Government of Nepal and chaired by the Honourable President of Nepal, Ram Chandra Poudel, discussed operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund by 2026 – a long-awaited but critical step. ICIMOD stressed the urgency of supporting mountain communities, whose lives and livelihoods are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Amplifying mountain voices

With mountains warming at twice the global average, communities here are facing unique challenges that demand global attention. COP29 offered a platform to emphasise the vulnerability of mountain ecosystems and the billions of people who depend on them. ICIMOD leveraged its presence in Baku to foster alliances with other mountainous regions, from the Andes to the Caucasus. These partnerships aim to strengthen the case for mountain-specific indicators under the global adaptation framework and advance the inclusion of mountain issues in international climate dialogues.

Supporting evidence-based negotiations

ICIMOD is committed to equipping negotiators from HKH countries with robust scientific evidence and tailored recommendations for effective advocacy. By working alongside delegations from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), we contributed to strengthening their interventions by ensuring up-to-date ground realities were included, leading to more impactful outcomes at this COP.

Looking back for a more positive future

As we look back to our origins on this ICIMOD day, we take stock of our work over the past 41 years, including the crucial lessons coming out of this most recent COP. ICIMOD remains steadfast in its mission to ensure that the voices of the HKH nations are heard and acted upon. We are advocating for a just transition, stronger adaptation measures, and ambitious climate action plans to avoid overshooting the critical 1.5°C target.

While the challenges are formidable, our collective resolve remains unwavering – as it has for over four decades. As we transition to emerging initiatives for greater adaptation and resilience, ICIMOD will intensify efforts to mobilise resources and strengthen regional cooperation for a sustainable and resilient future for the mountains and the people.

I wish you peaceful and happy winter festivities, and a bright and prosperous start to the New Year.

Pema Gyamtsho