Mountains in the spotlight

On the eve of the International Expert Dialogue on Mountains, People, and Climate Change, the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE) held a consultation meeting with a media group to provide updates about the event. Nepal will host the event on May 22 and 23 in Chandragiri, Kathmandu, aiming to bring international attention to this critical issue under its leadership.

The two-day event will feature experts from 25 countries, focusing on enhancing coordination and prioritizing mountain-centric initiatives within the broader climate change agenda.

The dialogue aims to foster collaboration among mountainous countries and stakeholders involved in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) programs. It also seeks to develop concrete roadmaps and strategies for mountain regions in preparation for the 60th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and beyond. The SBSTA meeting, scheduled for June, will include an expert dialogue on mountains, humans, and climate change.

The event will bring together over 200 representatives from mountainous countries, island nations, international organizations, development partners, NGOs, the private sector, and civil society groups. The chairpersons of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and SBSTA, as well as representatives from the UNFCCC Secretariat, UN agencies, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank will also attend the discussions. 

The dialogue aims to facilitate collective insights and conclusions, which will be incorporated into the SBSTA expert dialogue, including Nepal’s initiative on Sagarmatha Sambad.

Maheshwar Dhakal, joint secretary at MoFE, told the media that the objective of this dialogue is to prioritize and strengthen efforts related to mountain ecosystem-based climate resilience in a coordinated manner. He emphasized that the dialogue aims to enhance the negotiating capacity of mountainous countries on climate change issues and to pressure the international community to mobilize necessary resources for climate adaptation and mitigation.

“The frequency of climate change incidents is increasing day by day, particularly in mountainous and hilly regions. Therefore, this dialogue will also be instrumental in raising a stronger institutional voice,” he said.

Buddi Sagar Poudel, joint secretary and chief of the Climate Change Management Division at MoFE, said the event will enhance the understanding of climate change impacts in the Himalayan region and their solutions. 

“Our conclusion is that this Dialogue will integrate expertise and experiences on the topic and develop a mountain climate resilience strategy along with a common resolve,” he told ApEx.

He added that Nepal is committed to including the mountain agenda in every aspect of the SBSTA dialogue to increase visibility for its climate initiatives. “In areas such as loss and damage, climate justice, climate finance, and climate technology, we will incorporate the mountain agenda,” he added.

Mountains are invaluable natural assets, supporting 25 percent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and encompassing nearly half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. However, mountain glaciers are rapidly melting due to rising temperatures associated with climate change. This melting contributes to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and sea-level rise, and threatens freshwater supplies for millions who depend on glacier-fed rivers. With gradual changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, extreme and slow-onset climate-related hazards such as GLOFs, landslides, and flash floods are increasing. Approximately 40 percent of the world’s population indirectly relies on mountain resources for drinking water, agriculture, biodiversity, and hydroelectricity.

Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary at MoFE says the presence of the SBSTA chair in the dialogue shows the commitment of mountain issues at the global climate negotiations.

Despite their significance and the threats they face, mountains still do not receive adequate attention and recognition in global forums. The global community has severely neglected the value of the vital ecosystem services provided by mountains. It is now critical to prioritize mountain areas in all global action plans. A unified mountain voice is urgently needed to address the growing concerns about the effects of climate change on mountain communities and the essential ecosystem services they provide.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to inaugurate the dialogue, which will feature opening and closing plenary sessions, along with thematic discussions focused on three main areas. These will include 10 sessions. First, climate science and mountain evidence, second, mountain solutions: common grounds and common understanding, third, mountain prospective: resources and opportunities. Each session will have the keynote speaker, presentation and the panel discussion and over 50+ global speakers will be making the deliberation.

The themes will examine the evidence of climate change impacts, vulnerabilities, and risks in mountainous regions, as well as emerging threats and the need for action both within and beyond mountain environments. It will also explore community-driven adaptation, sustainable policy frameworks, and the importance of climate justice and local perspectives. Also, it will highlight the potential for economic growth in mountain regions through transitions to cleaner energy sources, the mobilization of climate finance, and the promotion of global cooperation and regional partnerships.

The event also aims to minimize the loss caused by climate change in mountain communities’ lives and livelihoods by promoting adaptation measures, clean energy, innovation, and research. It will emphasize capacity enhancement for mountain communities and the promotion of multi-party cooperation and partnership on climate change finance.

Mountain regions support over 15 percent of the world’s population by providing essential resources such as food, shelter, and clothing, and serve as habitats for over 15 percent of wildlife, including various plant species. However, mountain countries have not reaped the expected benefits because they either have not effectively raised their issues and concerns in international forums or have not received adequate international recognition.

As a mountainous nation, Nepal has long advocated in international forums about the impacts of climate change on the Himalayas. Due to these efforts, the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP28) last year included, for the first time, the impact of climate change on the Himalayas in its decision-making and has since emphasized effective measures to mitigate this impact. It was a crucial milestone in recognizing the impacts of climate change on mountainous regions worldwide and laying the groundwork for further action.

Ever since the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference (COP15), the impact of climate change on the Himalayan ecosystem has increasingly drawn global attention. Despite Nepal’s persistent efforts to prioritize this issue in subsequent conferences, relatively little progress has been achieved.

The government have been highlighting the impacts of climate change on the mountains and their communities through various initiatives, including cabinet meetings in Kalapathar in 2009, the 10-point Everest Declaration, calls for an alliance of mountain countries in 2009, the Mountain Initiative, the Mountain Advocacy Summit in 2022, as well as numerous conferences, policy dialogues, and declarations focused on mountain actions.

Ahead of and during the COP 28 in Dubai, high-level government officials, including Prime Minister Dahal, emphasized that developed countries' pledges and actions do not align and called for them to raise their ambitions and urgently fulfill their commitments. They urged developed countries to increase climate finance to address the $100bn shortfall, double adaptation finance by 2025, and ensure fair financial arrangements without conditions, constraints, and compliances.

As the chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) group, Nepal also demanded that the loss and damage fund be predictable, simplified, and adequate for LDCs and mountainous countries. One of the major achievements of the Dubai climate summit was the launch of the loss and damage fund, which aims to provide crucial support to vulnerable nations facing the brunt of climate-related challenges.