HKH parliamentarians urge urgent regional cooperation for climate action

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Aug. 20: The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Parliamentarians’ Meet-2025 concluded in Kathmandu on Tuesday with a strong message of urgency calling deeper regional cooperation to address shared environmental, social and economic challenges across the HKH region.

The two-day meeting, which began on Monday under the theme “Sustaining Nature, Empowering People”, brought together over 100 parliamentarians and representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan. 

The meeting served as a platform for legislators and policymakers to deliberate on the pressing issues of climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution, and to seek collective solutions for safeguarding the future of the HKH region.

Delivering a keynote address, Director General of International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Dr. Pema Gyamtsho stressed the financial and policy challenges facing the region.

“The HKH countries need around US $ 740 billion annually for both adaptation and mitigation,” he said. “Evidence-based policies and legislations, innovative solutions, informed decisions, increased and targeted investment, and collaborative actions are essential for building resilience, prosperity, and sustainability in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region.”

Dr. Gyamtsho emphasised the crucial role of lawmakers, adding: “As parliamentarians, your role as people’s elected representatives in enacting laws, influencing policies, reviewing development plans and allocating resources, and advocating for mass participation has never been more important and crucial than it is now.”

Speaking during the meet, Thaung Naing Oo, Head of Delegation, Myanmar, said that Myanmar recognises HKH, which is also known as the third pole, as a critical global asset. “Our northern mountainous regions are the easternmost extension of this significant landscape, sharing an invaluable ecosystem and high biological diversity,” he said.

“We must stand ready to further strengthen our partnerships, share our experience and learn as we collectively strive to protect this invaluable region. Regional cooperation and strong political commitment are essential to address the transboundary nature of the threats to achieve their related regional strategies and international commitments,” he said.

Phuntsho Rapten, Head of Delegation, Bhutan, said, “Every time I get to see the view of this tallest mountain, I also see some changes in the snow cover on the Everest. And this is one concerning sign of climate change.”

No matter where we are, we are all affected. The only difference is in terms of size and frequency. Bhutan is always committed to conserving environment and ensuring sustainable development or development. 

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan stipulates that a minimum of 60 per cent of Bhutan's total land shall be maintained under forest cover for all time. Protecting the Hindu Kush Himalaya requires more regional cooperation and innovative solutions.

Joint declaration

The participating parliamentarians issued a declaration recognising the shared ecological importance of the HKH, the cross-border nature of environmental threats, and the need to strengthen solidarity for climate resilience.

The statement said that climate crisis, air pollution, and biodiversity loss directly impact millions of lives and ecosystems in the region and called on legislators to play a stronger role in protecting both people and nature.

 The parliamentarians committed to -- holding the HKH Parliamentarians’ Meet regularly to strengthen regional dialogue, solidarity, and cooperation; exploring the possibility of establishing an HKH Parliamentarians’ Forum as a regional platform for dialogue and promoting science, evidence, experiences, and best practices among HKH countries on climate change, biodiversity, and air quality.

Similarly, the declaration includes sstrengthening their oversight role to deliver effective, inclusive, sustainable, and climate-resilient policies and legislations; and organising the second HKH Parliamentarians’ Meet at a mutually convenient date and place.

Solidarity from mountains to oceans

The declaration further underlined the need to strengthen global solidarity, “from mountains to oceans,” to achieve ambitious climate action, biodiversity conservation, and clean air for all. It also emphasised the importance of regular exchanges of experience among parliamentarians to deepen cooperation and support innovative responses to shared challenges.

The parliamentarians expressed their gratitude to the Agriculture, Cooperatives and Natural Resources Committee of the Federal Parliament of Nepal for organising the event.

Adopted in Kathmandu on August 19, 2025, the joint declaration reaffirmed the collective responsibility of HKH nations to work together for an inclusive, resilient and sustainable future.