By Abbas Nazil
Nepal and Bhutan have called for stronger international recognition of mountain-related climate change challenges within the United Nations climate negotiation process, proposing a dedicated agenda item at the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to improve scientific research, climate financing and adaptation support for vulnerable mountain communities.
The proposal, titled “1.5°C Warming in Mountains”, seeks to make mountain climate issues a regular part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, with particular attention to the growing threats posed by rising temperatures, melting glaciers and glacial lake outburst floods.
The submission, addressed to the COP31 presidency and the head of the UN climate secretariat, comes amid increasing climate-related disasters in Nepal, including the devastating Bhote Koshi glacial flooding disaster, which caused significant loss of lives, infrastructure damage and economic disruption.
Under the proposal, the two Himalayan countries are seeking scientific assessments of climate risks associated with temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius in mountain regions, an annual high-level dialogue on mountain climate challenges, a dedicated UNFCCC work programme and improved access to international climate finance.
Maheshwar Dhakal, head of the Climate Change Management Division at Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, said Himalayan countries were experiencing similar environmental challenges, including collapsing glaciers and flooding from glacial lakes.
He explained that Nepal was working towards bringing Himalayan countries together under the proposed agenda to strengthen collective responses to climate threats.
Nepal has suffered significant infrastructure losses and human casualties from flooding annually since 2020. In late August 2026, the collapse of a glacial slope along the border with Tibet triggered a massive flow of water and debris along the Bhote Koshi River, leaving more than 6,000 people dead or missing.
A government needs assessment estimated the disaster’s physical damage and economic losses at $2.7 billion, while approximately $4.8 billion would be required for recovery and reconstruction.
Dhakal said the disaster had demonstrated the growing consequences of climate change in the Himalayan region, stressing the need for scientific research, political discussions and stronger international attention to mountain-related climate risks.
He noted that Nepal had been advocating greater recognition of mountain issues in international climate negotiations since 2009, when it organised a cabinet meeting near Mount Everest.
Since COP28 in Dubai, the country has also organised high-level events and discussions on mountain-related climate challenges, including collaborative engagements with Bhutan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
However, Dhakal maintained that discussions alone were insufficient, arguing that mountain concerns must be formally integrated into the UN climate process to improve access to financial and technical assistance.
He said establishing specific indicators and priorities for mountain regions would help vulnerable developing countries prepare stronger funding proposals and access international climate financing mechanisms, including the Green Climate Fund.
Sindhu Dhungana, an alternate board member of the Green Climate Fund, said the impacts of climate change were becoming increasingly serious across the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, where mountains sustain economies, biodiversity, cultures and livelihoods.
Beyond adaptation, Nepal is also seeking international support to address losses and damages resulting from climate-related disasters.
The country has been provisionally allocated $21.6 million from the United Nations Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to support recovery from the Bhote Koshi disaster, although the amount represents only a fraction of the estimated reconstruction requirements.
Dhakal also highlighted the financial difficulties faced by developing countries when climate disasters destroy infrastructure financed through loans.
He cited the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, which received $312 million in funding from the Asian Development Bank before being severely damaged by flooding in 2021, shortly after becoming operational.
The recent Bhote Koshi disaster also destroyed about a dozen hydropower facilities and solar energy installations, further exposing the vulnerability of development investments in mountain regions.
Nepal is therefore seeking international discussions on how outstanding loans should be treated when climate-related disasters destroy infrastructure and development projects financed through borrowing.
It remains uncertain whether the proposed mountain climate agenda will be adopted at COP31, as consultations among governments and the summit’s co-presidencies are still ongoing.
Dhakal said securing agreement to discuss the proposal and include it in the formal agenda would represent an important step towards strengthening international cooperation and addressing the growing climate vulnerabilities of mountain communities.
