HKH Parliamentarians’ Meet Is the Beginning of a Roadmap for the Present and a Commitment for the Future: President Paudel

Kathmandu: President Ramchandra Paudel inaugurated the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) Parliamentarians’ Meet 2025 in Kathmandu, calling for regional cooperation to confront the shared crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution.

“With the parliamentarians’ support, cooperation with each other and foresight to the future, the common crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution will be possible to address. This meeting is the beginning of a roadmap for the present and a commitment for the future,” said President Paudel.

The two-day event, hosted by the Agriculture, Cooperatives, and Natural Resources Committee of Nepal’s Federal Parliament in collaboration with the Government of Nepal and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), has brought together around seventy parliamentarians from across the HKH region.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba highlighted the critical role of lawmakers in driving climate action, stating, “We are custodians of people’s aspirations and guardians of their future. The crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and clean air demand not just government action but our leadership, our voices, and our resolve as parliamentarians.”

The gathering aims to strengthen regional cooperation to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and the socio-economic challenges faced by high mountain communities. “To address the crisis that the HKH region is facing, it is imperative for the legislatures, executives, and judiciaries to work together with support from other stakeholders like media, development partners, and the scientific community,” said Kusum Devis Thapa, Chair of the organizing committee.

Highlighting the urgency, ICIMOD Director General Dr. Pema Gyamtsho mentioned that despite their global significance, mountain ecosystems remain underrepresented in international climate policies. He emphasized that HKH countries will require trillions of dollars in financing to meet adaptation and mitigation needs.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Swiss Development Cooperation support the event.