Nepal, Bhutan seek dedicated Himalayan climate agenda at COP31

Nepal and Bhutan have jointly proposed a dedicated agenda item on rising temperatures in mountain regions at the COP31 climate summit, seeking greater international attention to the risks facing the Himalayas and communities dependent on its ecosystems.

The two countries have asked the United Nations climate conference to include an item titled “1.5°C Warming in Mountains” in its supplementary provisional agenda. Nepal's Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment, Geeta Chaudhary, submitted the proposal on behalf of both governments under Rule 12 of the conference's draft rules of procedure.

The proposal comes amid growing concern over climate-related disasters in the Himalayan region, including floods in Nepal's Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems in August and a glacial lake outburst flood in Bhutan in October.

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The submission warns that rising temperatures are accelerating changes in glaciers, snow cover and permafrost, threatening water supplies, biodiversity, food production, energy systems and the livelihoods of mountain communities.

It also highlights the consequences for populations downstream. Rivers originating in mountain regions provide freshwater to more than two billion people across Asia and beyond, making changes in the Himalayas a concern for water, food and energy security across the region.

COP31 will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from Nov. 9 to 20. The proposal's submission does not mean the agenda item has been adopted, with its inclusion subject to the conference's formal procedures.

Nepal and Bhutan have proposed four areas for international action. These include more research into how 1.5°C warming and temperature overshoot could affect mountain regions, an annual high-level dialogue on mountain climate issues, a UN climate programme focused on mountain ecosystems, and greater recognition of mountain-specific needs in climate adaptation, finance and loss and damage arrangements.

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The proposal argues that mountain ecosystems need greater recognition in global climate negotiations because of their importance to both ecological stability and human welfare.

It cites the damage caused by the August 2026 Bhotekoshi disaster in Nepal, estimating losses at about $2.7 billion and reconstruction needs at $4.7 billion, equivalent to roughly 10% of the country's gross domestic product.


Caption: Important figures to look out for Nepal's disaster (Visuals by Arkatapa Basu)

The two countries say stronger cross-border cooperation, disaster preparedness, early warning systems and access to climate finance are needed to address risks that extend beyond national boundaries.

Caption: Figures for climate finance goal, fund for responding to loss and damage (Visuals by Arkatapa Basu)

The submission draws on provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that recognise the specific needs of countries with fragile ecosystems, including mountain regions.