ICIMOD is in Brazil for COP30—the world’s largest gathering of climate actors from government, academia, and civil society organisations from the 198 countries that are parties to the United Nations Climate Change.

ICIMOD is in Brazil for COP30—the world’s largest gathering of climate actors from government, academia, and civil society organisations from the 198 countries that are parties to the United Nations Climate Change.

With climate-induced disasters increasing in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), regional coordination and knowledge-sharing are vital. Following Pakistan’s 2022 floods, the country overhauled its disaster response systems.

While there is growing awareness of deadly or dangerous conflict between humans and megafauna in the Hindu Kush Himalayan midhills, less is known and being done to mitigate the often very severe economic impact of conflict with smaller animals – monkeys, porcupines, rodents or wild boars.

Rangelands in the spotlight. The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (#IYRP2026). This presents an incredible opportunity for us to capture and showcase the incredible diversity, beauty, and the challenges characterising the HKH rangelands.

📢 Vacancy announcements: ICIMOD is actively hiring for three roles within our Strategic Results, Partnerships and Business Development Unit. 💼Senior MEL Specialist (Project Position) 💼Senior Project Management Specialist (Project Position) 💼Consultant for Project Design and Proposal Development

Are marmots key engineers of permafrost landscapes, or do they destabilise slopes, accelerate thaw, and alter local hydrology?

Are you an interior designer or architect with experience creating soundproof media spaces? ICIMOD is inviting Expressions of Interest (EoI) for the design and construction of multimedia recording studios, including a podcast studio and AV room at our headquarters in Khumaltar, Lalitpur.

Climate change is compounding existing challenges faced by pastoralist women, despite their roles as lynchpins of high-altitude communities, cultures, and nature stewardship.

Women are disproportionately vulnerable to disasters, yet their needs are often overlooked in planning, warning systems, shelters, and post-disaster reconstruction.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) is the UNFCC’s negotiation-based framework and collection of projects for low- and middle-income countries.

📢 Vacancy announcement: ICIMOD is hiring a Consultant for Project Design and Proposal Development to support us with high-quality project design and proposal development to support our internal efforts. Apply here: www.icimod.org/get-involved... #ICIMODJobs #WeAreHiring #ClimateAction

In the Hindu Kush Himalaya, communities are facing increasing extreme weather events, such as heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, extreme temperatures, and strong winds. These escalating risks affect lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

A recent paper on brick kiln workers found that 60% of brick kiln workers were from the most marginalised ethnic groups (Magar and Tharu) and 24% were dalits. Many reported being forced to migrate for work due to lack of livelihood options in home districts.

📢 Vacancy announcement: ICIMOD is actively hiring for two roles within our Strategic Results, Partnerships and Business Development Unit. 💼Senior MEL Specialist (Project Position) 💼Senior Project Management Specialist (Project Position) Apply now: www.icimod.org/get-involved...

Reliable land and forest data is crucial for environmental management, policy, and accessing climate finance. In Nepal, inconsistent mapping methods have hindered production of comparable land cover maps.

ICIMOD has been advancing mountain issues in global climate agendas to address severe risks in the HKH, including glacial melt, extreme weather, and biodiversity loss. In 2024, ICIMOD played a key role in ensuring mountain resilience was highlighted in the UNFCCC COP process.

The Indus River supports millions across China, India, and Pakistan, with nearly 90% of Pakistan’s population dependent on it. However, climate change and rapid population growth are straining this vital resource.

Strategic foresight is an emerging policymaking tool that helps governments prepare for complex future scenarios, strengthening resilience, safeguarding the environment, and boosting performance.

APPLY NOW: Fully funded regional training on the application of machine learning and deep learning in mountain cryosphere studies 💻 Are you a graduate student, early-career researcher, or government professional working on mountain environments?

The Arctic Circle Assembly is the world’s largest annual gathering dedicated to the Arctic and global issues, held in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Nagaland, a state in northeastern India is rich in biocultural diversity, where the people have a notable aspect of connection to nature and wildlife, reflected by their traditional knowledge, cultural practices and beliefs.

Over half of Nepal’s farmland lacks irrigation, limiting food production and security. Lift irrigation powered by renewable energy offers a sustainable solution but is often too costly for farmers, so the Government provides subsidies and technical support.

The Royal Government of Bhutan has begun work to develop its National Clean Air Action Plan (NCAAP), a landmark initiative to protect public health, safeguard ecosystems, and sustain Bhutan’s carbon-negative status.

In the Indian Himalayan Region, nearly 50 million people rely on springs for domestic water and two-thirds of irrigated farmland depends on them. Yet, many springs are drying due to poor management and climate change, causing widespread water shortages.

Everest region a hotspot of cryosphere-linked hazards, ICIMOD’s new study on Nepal’s 2024 Thame flood confirms

ICIMOD delegation is at #AdaptationFutures2025 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Here’s where you can find our delegation in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand, from 13-16 October. #CLimateAdaptationREsilience #HKH #ClimateAction #SUCCESS

“Nature is sending us repeated and increasingly urgent warnings through the rise in complex mountain disasters each year. To respond effectively, we must dramatically enhance monitoring of our fragile cryosphere systems, glaciers, snow, and permafrost.

Resilience isn't built in the aftermath, it's forged through proactive action. By focusing on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), efforts strengthen communities before disasters strike.

Pre-monsoon flash floods are becoming more frequent in northeast Bangladesh, threatening lives, livelihoods, and harvests. In 2022, two major floods submerged over 80% of some districts and affected more than seven million people.

Comprehensive management plan launched for Gangtey-Phobji wetlands in Bhutan Gangtey-Phobji, Bhutan’s largest Ramsar Site, is vital for wildlife and subsistence farming.

Cryosphere science is male-dominated globally, with gender inequality especially stark in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. Since 2011, ICIMOD has worked to change this.

In Dhankuta, water security is shaping the future of responsible tourism. Find out more: nepalitimes.com/opinion/buil...

Today at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress ICIMOD launched our new publication on Nature-based Solutions. Download the publication here: doi.org/10.53055/ICI... #HIREAP #IUCNcongress #conservation #naturebasedsolutions

The IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 is starting today. Here’s where you can find our delegation in Abu Dhabi. Follow us on social media for live updates, or visit our event page for more details: www.icimod.org/event/region... #HIREAP #IUCNcongress #conservation #naturebasedsolutions

ICIMOD is gearing up for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi. Follow our journey, reach out to connect, and learn more about our participation at the Congress: www.icimod.org/event/region... #HIREAP #IUCNcongress #conservation

Yak pastoralism ensures sustainability through traditional management of natural resources and ecosystems and contributes to food security, nutrition, human and environmental health, and culture. #IYRP2026 #Rangelands #Pastoralists #SustainableFoodSystems

We’re looking for qualified firms and institutions to design and conduct the baseline assessment for a new climate resilience project in the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh.

Across the HKH, residents face worsening air pollution, with PM2.5 levels often exceeding WHO guidelines.

Bhutan, with over 52% of its land under Protected Areas (PAs), has a strong conservation ethos. Natural Capital Accounting (NCA) is a tool to measure and integrate ecosystem services into national planning.

📢 We are looking for a firm or institution to conduct a study on sustainable forest resources for economic development and community engagement in Uttarakhand, India.

Given the HKH’s vast rivers and water resources from monsoon and cryosphere melt, hydropower offers major opportunities for green growth and decarbonisation. Yet, climate change—glacial melt, permafrost thaw, erratic rainfall, and extreme river events—threatens projects’ sustainability.

Permafrost, often called Earth’s ‘hidden glue’, stabilises slopes by binding loose sediment. In the HKH, rising temperatures are thawing high-mountain permafrost, contributing to increasing landslides and disasters that threaten lives and livelihoods across South Asia.

Provincial and local governments are increasingly shaping policy under Nepal’s federal structure, creating space for locally developed solutions and citizen engagement. In 2018, Karnali Province committed to sustainable agriculture, promoting organic and agroecological practices.

Local communities take ownership of flood early warning systems Each year, floods affect millions in the HKH river basins, with annual costs projected at USD 215 billion by 2030.

In an article for The Guardian, Imogen Lepere writes of her experience in Dhankuta’s village homestays - "Far from tourist hotspots, staying with a family in a rural mountain village gives a vivid taste of life in little-visited east Nepal" #WorldTourismDay2025 #SustainableTourism #UNTourism

Update on the 2025 Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) course: We want to take this opportunity to thank each individual and organisation that has helped us spread the word on the course.

TOMORROW: Register now to get inspiration in green entrepreneurship from two pioneering Pakistan-based climate-tech ventures – Seyrab and ScaleX. Event details: September 26 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm GMT+5:45 Register now to secure your spot: luma.com/yo8yncc4 #HKH #HIREAP #Enterprise

ICIMOD has launched ‘mountain voices’ – a community of practice initiative to centre local voices, knowledge and lived experiences in climate action. #Cryosphere #ClimateAction #GESI #InclusiveScience #HKH #Arctic

UNDER 40 AND WORKING FOR WATER SECURITY IN THE HINDU KUSH HIMALAYA? Apply now for your chance to be among the 2025 cohort of our flagship training course in integrated river basin management.