Nepal President Urges HKH Nations to Adopt People-Centric, Science-Based Policies

Kathmandu, August 18, 2025 – Nepal’s President Ramchandra Poudel called on Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) countries to prioritize people-centered and science-based policies to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution. Speaking as the chief guest at the Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Meet 2025, he emphasized the urgent need for timely, implementable policies grounded in scientific evidence and public input.

Addressing parliamentarians from across the HKH region, President Poudel stressed the importance of robust legal frameworks to support climate-friendly development, regulate air pollution, and conserve biodiversity. He urged parliaments to ensure accountability by monitoring program implementation, resource transparency, and result evaluation. “Climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution are no longer just scientific concerns—they are the harsh reality of our daily lives,” Poudel said. He described the meeting as a historic opportunity to create a roadmap for a sustainable future for the HKH region, which supports over two billion people through its water, forests, and fertile lands. The president highlighted the region’s vulnerability to global warming, noting that the HKH is warming faster than the global average. With glaciers melting rapidly, climate-induced disasters like floods and landslides are increasingly threatening communities from downstream valleys to distant regions. He reiterated the need for global commitment to the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C. Despite these challenges, Poudel commended the HKH nations for their proactive measures, including cooperation in hydropower and solar energy, community-driven forest conservation, and early warning systems for climate disasters. He also praised efforts in biodiversity conservation, such as expanding national parks, modernizing wildlife monitoring, and engaging local communities. Additionally, he noted progress in improving air quality through public transport reforms, promotion of electric vehicles, and stricter industrial emission regulations. The inaugural session featured remarks from Dev Raj Ghimire, Speaker of Nepal’s House of Representatives, Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Forests and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, Bangladesh’s Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma, and Kusum Devi Thapa, Chairperson of Nepal’s Agriculture, Cooperatives, and Natural Resources Committee. The parliamentarians’ meet marks a step toward stronger regional collaboration for a sustainable and resilient mountain future, with President Poudel expressing hope that collective action will address the shared crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution. “This is the beginning of a roadmap for the present and a commitment to the future,” he concluded.