HKH Parliamentarians’ Meet 2025 Concludes with Urgent Call for Regional Cooperation

Kathmandu, August 19, 2025 – The two-day Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Parliamentarians’ Meet 2025 concluded in Kathmandu on Tuesday with an urgent call for stronger regional cooperation to address shared environmental and socio-economic challenges facing the mountain region.

Held under the theme “Sustaining Nature, Empowering People,” the gathering brought together parliamentarians and representatives from across the HKH region, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Delegates highlighted the ecological, social, and economic importance of the Himalaya while warning that climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity loss pose urgent threats to communities and ecosystems across the region.

The declaration emphasized the need for joint action to promote climate resilience, clean air, and biodiversity conservation while underscoring the crucial legislative role of parliamentarians. The declaration was formally adopted in Kathmandu with the participation of parliamentarians and representatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Participants also stressed the importance of regional solidarity to build an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future for the HKH.

The Kathmandu Declaration outlined several commitments, including: holding the HKH Parliamentarians’ Meet regularly to strengthen dialogue and cooperation; exploring the establishment of an HKH Parliamentarians’ Forum as a regional dialogue platform; sharing science, evidence, and best practices on climate change, biodiversity, and air quality among parliamentarians; strengthening the oversight role of lawmakers to ensure effective, inclusive, and climate-resilient policies; and organizing the second Meet at a mutually agreed date and venue.

The declaration further called for strengthening global solidarity “from mountains to oceans” for ambitious climate action, biodiversity protection, and clean air for all. The participants expressed appreciation to the Agriculture, Cooperatives, and Natural Resources Committee of Nepal’s Federal Parliament for hosting the Meet.