Kathmandu, Nov 13: Nepal has urged the United Nations to give greater attention to climate threats facing the Himalayas.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal raised the issue during a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres in Antalya, Türkiye, on the sidelines of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31). Khanal was part of a ministerial delegation from least developed countries (LDCs).
He stressed that countries must keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach and reduce the risk of temperatures exceeding that threshold. He also called for increased support to address loss and damage caused by climate change, and said mountain concerns should have a distinct place in international climate negotiations.
Khanal proposed incorporating a Mountain Work Programme under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), giving mountain risks and priorities a clearer place in the climate process.
The call comes as glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya continue to retreat. A 2026 assessment by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development found that the region’s glacier area fell by 12 percent between 1990 and 2020. The report links glacier change to water resources, river flows and disaster risks.
Changes in the region’s mountain environment have consequences for water security and communities exposed to climate hazards. Khanal’s proposal seeks to bring these concerns into global discussions on adaptation, climate finance and support for countries facing climate related losses.
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