Bangkok [Thailand], Oct 30 – Nepal has called for greater regional cooperation to tackle climate change and disaster risks in the Himalayan region, with 53 countries supporting four proposals presented by the country at a high-level dialogue in Bangkok.
Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha made the remarks on Thursday at a regional dialogue titled ‘From Everest to the Sea’, organised by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Government of Nepal.
Shrestha said climate-related crises in the Himalayan region do not stop at national borders and require coordinated efforts among countries.
One of Nepal’s key proposals is to develop a multi-hazard early warning system using satellite technology, artificial intelligence and other modern tools to monitor vulnerable mountain slopes and glaciers. Nepal has called for cooperation between international space agencies, scientific institutions and governments to make this possible.
Shrestha also highlighted Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s proposal for a ‘Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism’ to coordinate information sharing, glacier monitoring and early warning systems across the Himalayan region.
Nepal has also called for immediate financial support for disaster risk reduction, preparedness and recovery, saying such assistance should be accessible and provided as grants rather than loans.
Shrestha said monitoring and early warning systems in high Himalayan areas should be funded through grants. He also stressed the need to assess risks along rivers, from their sources to the sea, when investing in hydropower projects and infrastructure in border towns.
