Yangyel Lhaden
Baku, Azerbaijan—Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay led a high-level gathering of leaders from the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region at the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan on November 12, calling for a common vision and unified climate action for the protection of the HKH region.
The side event, convened in partnership with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), focused on advocating for the protection of the region’s unique mountain ecosystems.
The HKH, often referred to as the ‘water tower of Asia’, spans Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan, supporting over 240 million people. The region provides vital water resources to over 1.6 billion people downstream.
However, climate change poses an existential threat to the region’s glaciers and ecosystems. Rising temperatures are accelerating glacier retreat, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods, and threatening communities and livelihoods across the region.
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay emphasised the region’s vulnerability, warning that even a modest rise of 1.5°C in global temperatures could have devastating consequences for the HKH.
He called for unity among HKH countries, urging them to speak with a common purpose on the global stage. “COP29 presents a crucial opportunity for HKH to unite and address key agendas of negotiations like the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance, the Global Goal on Adaptation, and limiting global warming, among others, which is relevant to our region.”
Nepal’s Minister of Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, shared the devastating impact of recent climate-induced disasters, including the catastrophic Thame flood that destroyed a village and the floods in September that claimed over 150 lives. He called for regional solidarity and stronger global partnerships to address the HKH’s climate vulnerabilities.
Pakistan’s Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Romina Khursheed Alam, emphasised the need for cross-border cooperation, highlighting the importance of coordinated efforts to protect the region’s invaluable resources. “Together, we can create a sustainable, resilient future for the HKH region,” she said.
Bangladesh’s secretary of Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Farhina Ahmad said that the climate crisis impacted not only individual countries but the entire region. “Not only Bangladesh but the whole region is suffering. The impact is immeasurable. If we continue with business as usual, the situation will only worsen. We must act now to prevent further loss,” she said.
India raised concerns over air pollution as a major challenge in the Indo-Gangetic Airshed, which spans several countries. The Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Naresh Pal Gangwar, called for greater collaboration to tackle this transboundary issue, urging countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh to work together on air quality management.
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay also commended the work of ICIMOD, applauding its critical role in advancing research and action on mountain ecosystems. “However, there is much more to do. Through ICIMOD, we can amplify our voices globally and ensure our region’s needs are recognised.”
ICIMOD Director General Dr Pema Gyamtsho (PhD) discussed the difficult choices faced by communities in the HKH as they cope with climate-induced disasters. “People must decide whether to adapt to increasingly harsh conditions or abandon their homes and break ties with landscapes their families have cherished for centuries,” he said.
He added that there is a need for disaster preparedness, increased adaptation financing for high-risk areas, investment in addressing air pollution, loss and damage finance, and stronger policy coordination across the region.
The secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Karma Tshering, highlighted the need for regional cooperation on monitoring cryosphere risks, developing early warning systems, and investing in resilient infrastructure.
He also stressed the importance of strengthening the region’s capacity to access global funds, such as the Adaptation Fund, Global Environment Facility and Green Climate Fund.
He added that there is a need to have biennial ministerial meetings, as agreed upon in the 2020 Ministerial Mountain Summit, to maintain momentum in addressing HKH’s shared challenges.
The leaders agreed on the urgency to represent the HKH region as a unified coalition at global forums through ongoing collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and a commitment to amplifying HKH issues internationally, and seeking to secure support for climate adaptation and resilience efforts that address the region’s unique challenges.
This story is produced as part of the COP29 Climate Change Media Partnership, a journalism fellowship organised by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and the Stanley Center for Peace and Security.