This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
3 mins Read
More than four hundred experts in Kathmandu to discuss solutions for mountain communities
Four hundred experts from around the world are taking part in the international conference Resilient Hindu Kush Himalaya: Developing Solutions towards a Sustainable Future for Asia, which opened today in Kathmandu. Over the next four days this group will discuss ideas for strengthening the fragile environments and communities of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), a mountain range that spans from Afghanistan to Myanmar.
The Right Honourable Bidya Devi Bhandari, President of Nepal, inaugurated the conference today followed by a panel discussion on the role of a resilient HKH for creating a more sustainable Asia. To address growing challenges to mountains and mountain communities, the Ministry of Population and Environment (MOPE), Government of Nepal and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) are co-hosting the conference in Kathmandu, Nepal. The conference will run through December 6, focusing on ideas and solutions to create effective and sustainable changes to improve mountain livelihoods.
The HKH sources 10 major river systems in Asia that provide water, ecosystem services, and livelihoods to more than 210 million people. The region holds and distributes water for more than 1.3 billion people living in downstream river basins. Climate change and other drivers of change in the HKH have already begun to impact ecosystems and communities increasing vulnerability and exposure to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and landslides.
Resilience is the ability of communities and ecosystems to be prepared for shocks, recover from shocks, and “bounce forward” to emerge stronger than before. ICIMOD and its partners have been working on developing solutions for resilience building, promoting regional cooperation, and enhancing knowledge for sustainable mountain development. For an effective response to the complex challenges facing the HKH, multiple actors need to come together and share knowledge, and develop collective vision for the region.
The conclusions drawn from the conference will add a mountain perspective to larger global agreements, such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – the United Nations’ set of milestones for eradicating poverty and tackling climate change by 2030. The Resilience conference is an indication that ICIMOD’s eight regional member countries recognize the need for a collaborative approach to achieve the SDG targets.
“I hope the outcomes of this conference will contribute toward improving the socio-economic conditions of the people living in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region”, said Honourable Mithila Chaudhary, Minister of Population and Environment, Government of Nepal.
Secretary Prakash Mathema, Ministry of Population and Environment, Government of Nepal, said that “the adverse impacts of climate change and other drivers of change pose serious threats to our development efforts, so urgent actions are required from all to build resilience of people and ecosystems.”
The European Union is providing support to this conference through ICIMOD’s “Himalica” initiative. The EU’s Ambassador to Nepal, Veronica Cody, said “I am sure that this conference will make a strong contribution to understanding the concept of resilience in the Hindu Kush Himalaya better and to mapping the way forward –for the benefit of the region, Asia and the world at large.”
Dasho Rinzin Dorji, ICIMOD Board Chair and Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forest, Government of Bhutan, said, “This international conference is timely as climate change is a reality we face and we must prepare to be resilient so that our future generations do not suffer”.
ICIMOD’s Director General, David Molden said, “At ICIMOD, we know that mountains face challenges, but they also provide opportunity: opportunities for collaboration, opportunities for partnership and private investment, opportunities for youth and opportunities to envision and work toward a future where mountains can become examples of changes that can inspire the rest of the world. We know that mountains can bring us together.”
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 contents
As governments around the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region reel from the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic immediate, medium- and ...
[caption id="attachment_7242" align="aligncenter" width="562"] Photo credit: Clemens Kunze/ICIMOD[/caption] Ministerial panel endorses declaration on 'Healthy ...
距人类首登世界之巅已70年,而气候紧急情况发生在此:在兴都库什-喜马拉雅区域内,三分之二的冰川预计将在本世纪末消失。 领先的山地机构国际山地综合发展中心(ICIMOD)、尼泊尔登山协会(NMA)和山区伙伴关系(Mountain Partnership) 呼吁全世界来拯救地球上的冰雪,以避免为时过晚。 #“拯救我们的雪”宣言在最初48小时内就收集到1000多个签名,其中包括新西兰前总理、各国外交官、传奇登山者和著名地球科学家。 尼泊尔加德满都讯(2023 年 5 月 29 日)——七十年前的今天,在埃德蒙·希拉里爵士和丹增·诺尔盖首次登上珠峰 ; 70 年后的今天,地球上最高的山峰正在经历由全球变暖引起的前所未有且基本不可逆的变化。 全球变暖正在危及珠峰与兴都库什-喜马拉雅地区的环境,该地区横跨八个国家,约长3500公里。根据目前的排放情况,科学家预计在未来70年内,该地区三分之二的冰川或将消融。 国际山地综合发展中心(ICIMOD)在包括 尼泊尔登山协会 和 山区伙伴关系(联合国自愿伙伴联盟)在内的全球山地机构的支持下,呼吁公众支持 #拯救我们的雪(#SaveOurSnow)运动。该运动要求公众: 在社交平台分享来自世界各地山区的故事和照片,使用#SaveOurSnow 标签 强调气候影响; 在网址 icimod.org/saveoursnow/declaration/ 签署一份宣言,呼吁各国政府兑现将升温限制在 1.5 ...
[caption id="attachment_7328" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Photo credit: Farid Ahmad/ICIMOD[/caption] The Secretary of the Ministry of ...
‘Managing Himalayan forest ecosystems on a transboundary scale is critical for mitigating the impact of climate change for sustaining ecosystem ...
Islamabad – Wednesday, 13 September 2024 - The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in collaboration with the Ministry ...
Dhulikhel, Kathmandu Twenty-four media representatives from the South Asian countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal,
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Chief Guest Mr Narayan Prasad Bhatta, Chief District Officer, ...