Articles

Eastern Himalayan Countries Discuss Climate Change Roadmap

Eastern Himalayan countries discuss roadmap for regional action on adaptation to climate change

On the 18^th August 2010, four eastern Himalayan countries – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal – officially commenced a three-day high-level technical consultative meeting in Kathmandu - titled "Sacred Himalayas for Water, Livelihoods, and Bio-cultural Heritage".

This meeting is being organised by ICIMOD and the Royal Government of Bhutan. Expected outcomes will create a roadmap leading to the proposed "Climate Summit for a Living Himalayas, Bhutan 2011".

Dr Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, Vice Chair of the
National Planning Commission, Nepal

Opening the meeting was the chief guest, Dr Jagadish Chandra Pokharel, Vice Chair of the National Planning Commission, Nepal. He congratulated the Royal Government of Bhutan for taking this initiative to develop a regional framework and adopting national plans regarding climate change. A primary aim of this scheme is to reduce the vulnerability of local populations living in the region including the lowlands. He commended the role of ICIMOD, of which he is a board member, in providing technical backstopping to the Summit, which has an important objective: assisting the populations in the eastern Himalayan region to adapt to climate change.

Common Geography, Common Problems

Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Minister for Agriculture and Forest in the Royal Government of Bhutan, said that countries should work together in developing medium and long term strategies as citizens of the eastern Himalayas. He emphasised that we have to start working together on an urgent basis.

Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Minister for Agriculture
and Forest in the Royal Government of Bhutan

"We share a common geography, common problems, and a common destiny and need to take collective action to tackle the problems posed by changing climate... We also need to gain a clearer picture of the changes taking place in relation to temperature rise and its local effects. There are heavy fluctuations in weather patterns and their implications at the local, national, and regional levels are going to be significant. We have to work towards developing our own adaptive strategy at the regional level".

He also commended the efforts of ICMOD, "which has given the regional countries this platform which provides us an opportunity to share and disseminate information and plan together".

Saving the Third Pole

Dr. Madhav Karki, Acting Director General of ICIMOD, highlighted the importance of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region, also known as the 'Third Pole' or the 'Water Towers of Asia', as a major water source for close to 1.3 billion people. Climate change has a profound impact on the region. Scientists have claimed that the Himalayan glaciers are shrinking faster than glaciers in other parts of the world. Warming is more pronounced at elevations above 4000 metres, which has implications on fresh water resources.

He suggested four key messages for building a climate-resilient region and long-term adaption:

• livelihood diversification
• disaster preparedness
• climate risk assessment for infrastructure development
• improved management of natural resources

He also stressed the urgent need to share scientific knowledge to address the 'knowledge gaps' that currently exist in the region. He emphasised the importance of regional collaboration and sharing of implementation experiences to better understand transboundary and regional problems and to come up with better adaptation approaches.

Lastly, Mr. Nawang Norbu, Bhutan, presented the rationale for the proposed "Climate Summit for a Living Himalayas, Bhutan 2011". He described the stages in the process, and why they will be focusing on the southern slopes of the eastern Himalayan region.

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