Nepal and Bhutan have jointly proposed a dedicated COP31 agenda on Himalayan temperature rise, warning of growing threats from glacier melt, floods and extreme weather….reports Asian Lite News Desk
Nepal and Bhutan have jointly called for a dedicated agenda on rising temperatures in the Himalayan region at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), seeking greater international recognition of the growing climate threats facing mountain ecosystems and communities.
The two countries have proposed an agenda item titled “1.5-Degree Temperature Rise in the Himalayan Region” for the conference, scheduled to take place in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9 to 20. The initiative comes amid mounting concerns over glacier melt, glacial lake outburst floods, extreme weather events and the growing vulnerability of communities across the Himalayas.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the secretariat of Nepal’s Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment, the joint proposal was submitted to seek greater international attention to the specific climate challenges facing the region.
Nepal’s Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment, Geeta Chaudhary, submitted the proposal on behalf of both countries under Rule 12 of the conference’s draft rules of procedure.
The initiative follows a series of climate-related disasters affecting the Himalayan region, including devastating floods in Nepal’s Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems on August 26 and a glacial lake outburst flood in Bhutan on Thursday night.
Nepal and Bhutan have warned that rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt, increasing water insecurity and exposing mountain communities to increasingly severe weather events. The countries argue that the consequences extend well beyond the Himalayan region, given its importance as a source of water, food and energy for millions of people downstream.
The joint proposal states that climate-related changes could cause irreversible damage to Himalayan ecosystems and the communities dependent on them. Rivers originating in the region support more than two billion people living downstream, while the Himalayas contain nearly half of the world’s important biodiversity areas.
The two countries have called for scientific studies examining temperature increases in the Himalayan region and the consequences of exceeding global temperature targets. They have also proposed an annual high-level dialogue dedicated to mountains and climate change to ensure that the concerns of mountain nations receive sustained attention in international climate discussions.
Another key proposal is the initiation of a process to develop an action plan for Himalayan ecosystems under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Nepal and Bhutan have further urged that the priorities of mountain regions be incorporated into international discussions on climate adaptation, climate finance and loss and damage. They believe the specific vulnerabilities of mountain ecosystems require greater consideration in global climate policy and financial support mechanisms.
The proposal highlights the economic consequences of climate-related disasters, particularly the floods that struck Nepal’s Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems on August 26, 2026.
According to a Rapid Disaster Needs Assessment report prepared by the Nepali government, the floods caused estimated damage of $2.7 billion, while recovery and reconstruction are expected to require $4.7 billion.
The scale of the estimated losses highlights the financial burden climate-related disasters can place on vulnerable mountain economies, particularly when damage to infrastructure and essential services creates long-term recovery requirements.
Bhutan has also faced the consequences of extreme climate-related events. A flash flood on Thursday night, triggered by the bursting of the Shintaphu glacial lake, swept away infrastructure at the Gasa Tshachu natural hot springs, according to reports. No casualties had been reported as of Friday.
The recent incidents have added urgency to calls for greater international attention to the risks facing the Himalayan region. Nepal and Bhutan are seeking to ensure that mountain ecosystems are not overlooked in global climate negotiations, particularly in discussions on adaptation, financial assistance and measures to address climate-related losses.
Through their joint proposal, the two countries are aiming to place Himalayan temperature rise and its consequences directly on the COP31 agenda, while establishing a more structured international approach to protecting mountain environments and the communities that depend on them.
