“히말라야 8개국, 힘 합쳐 기후변화 대응 시스템 마련해야” 목소리

Recent floods in Nepal have sparked a call for neighboring Himalayan countries to unite and develop a strategic system to combat climate change. According to The Kathmandu Post on the 31st, Nepal, China, India, Pakistan, and Bhutan, all affected by the Himalayan mountain range, must work together to create a multinational organization to address the climate crisis.

This disaster left 80 Indian tourists dead, and Isha Foundation's founder Sadhguru, who established the organization, emphasized in an interview that developing countries, not wealthier nations, are suffering the consequences of climate change. He stated that India, China, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan must act together regardless of nationality.

ICIMOD, a think tank based in Nepal, stressed the need for integrated data and infrastructure due to the fragmented approach to crisis management within the Himalayan ecosystem. The center presented six action points, including enhancing cross-border cooperation at all levels, prioritizing protection for mountain residents, alerting the international community to the Himalayan region's vulnerability to climate change, accelerating the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing practical incentives and means for restoring mountain ecosystems, and establishing practical incentives and means for restoring mountain ecosystems.

Center senior researcher Mohammad Paruk Aijam, quoted in The Probe on the 29th, said, "Climate change is happening too fast for current efforts to keep up," and emphasized the need for transnational cooperation to address cross-border risks. A report he released in June highlighted the need for standardized, integrated monitoring of glaciers, snow avalanches, and permafrost, as well as the establishment of a Himalayan ice hub and disaster early warning systems.

Notably, China's active role in the process is highlighted. According to Reuters, Nepal and China held a joint meeting in Nepal's capital three months before the recent floods in May to discuss monitoring and responding to flood, weather, and glacial risks. However, two Nepalese officials present at the meeting reported that China was not actively sharing data on glacial risk and water levels.