People across the Hindu Kush Himalayas are frontline to the impacts of not just global temperature rise, but also rapid socioeconomic changes and loss of nature. Many people’s livelihoods are at risk from both climate and environmental shocks, while the pivotal roles many local communities and Indigenous People play in conservation often go unrecognised and unrewarded. This strategic group sets out to accelerate the transition to green, low-carbon, and adaptive livelihoods, energy systems, and sustainable human settlements – while safeguarding communities’ well-being. We build political support for indigenous, locally led nature-based solutions to climate and environment losses and test and scale financial incentives for ecological stewardship and the reversal of species, nature and habitat loss.