This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
On the occasion of the 11th Anniversary of Sikkim University, Eklabya Sharma, Deputy Director General of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), was invited to deliver the Foundation Day lecture. Titled Climate+ Change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Developing solutions to complex challenges at the intersection of environment and development, the lecture walked listeners through a host of issues unique and characteristic to the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). The lecture was delivered on 20 July 2018 in Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Sharma started off by highlighting the significance and importance of the HKH as an important “water tower” and major food production area that supports close to a fourth of the world’s population. He then spoke of the many challenges that still persist in this region of rich natural and cultural diversity. Poverty, energy and food insecurity, and lack of disaster preparedness are major hurdles that the region is yet to overcome. Climate change has thrown up new risks and challenges for sustainable development in the HKH.
1 min Read
By sharing relevant data from the HKH on increasing temperature trends, glacier area loss, and changing precipitation patterns, Sharma explained how these factors are likely to affect the daily lives of people in the region, both upstream and downstream. There are, however, great efforts being made to counter, build resilience and adapt to changing environmental conditions. The use of community-based flood early warning systems, development of resilient mountain villages, and the adoption of improved brick kiln technology in the region, were cited as examples of concrete achievements made so far.
Sharma also emphasized the transboundary nature of these challenges in the HKH region. It is therefore important to adopt a holistic regional approach to understanding the issues as well as coming up with solutions. Hence, rather than thinking in terms of individual countries, Sharma highlighted the need to take a landscapes and river basins approach to better identify and address problems in the HKH.
Sharma concluded his lecture by briefly talking about ICIMOD’s Himalayan University Consortium (HUC), of which Sikkim University is also a member. He reiterated that the HUC platform offers a good base from which to share knowledge and discuss issues pertaining to the HKH collectively. Lastly, Sharma acknowledged Sikkim University as an important partner for ICIMOD and congratulated them on their special occasion.
Share
Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.
related content
As a young girl growing up in the hilly Dapcha Kashikhanda municipality, Sushila Adhikari remembers her local pond Daraune Pokhari. ...
Over 50 cryosphere researchers attended the conference. Participants aimed to develop a policy framework where scientific research might help develop ...
ICIMOD Delegation makes a courtesy call to Finance Minister of Pakistan (Courtesy: ...
Nepal, India, and Bhutan – which share the transboundary Kangchenjunga landscape in the eastern Himalaya – have been connected through ...
Each year, we mark 20 May as World Bee Day to raise awareness about the essential role bees play ...
Just as in the other hilly districts of Nepal, the out-migration by the youths in Nuwakot, mainly by the male ...
At the request of Deutsche Welle (DW) television service, a team from ICIMOD and DW, travelled to Ludhi Khola watershed in Gorkha, ...
The events created awareness and trained brick entrepreneurs and workers in operating zig-zag kilns and precise brick stacking practices, and ...
