Kathmandu: The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE) marked its 25th anniversary this week with a high-level international conference focused on the economic challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.
Organised by SANDEE, a flagship network of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the conference titled “SANDEE@25” brought together global experts, scholars, and policymakers from South Asia and beyond to reflect on the network’s achievements and discuss emerging environmental challenges.
ICIMOD Director General Pema Gyamtsho said SANDEE has become an indispensable platform for advancing understanding of the links between poverty, development, and environmental sustainability in the region.
Renowned economist Sir Partha Dasgupta of the University of Cambridge delivered a keynote address, highlighting SANDEE’s role in fostering cross-border collaboration and impactful research in environmental economics.
Over the past 25 years, SANDEE has supported more than 2,000 researchers and policymakers across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Many alumni now serve in senior academic and government positions.
The conference discussions covered themes including biodiversity finance, forest restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods. A commemorative publication, “SANDEE@25: Advancing environmental economics research and education in South Asia,” was also launched during the event.
