Nepal Himalayan climate agenda efforts have fallen short at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), after a proposal to give mountain-related climate concerns a separate place in formal negotiations failed to secure approval. Nepal, Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan had sought greater international recognition of the risks facing mountain ecosystems, but resistance from several major negotiating blocs prevented the proposals from being adopted as formal agenda items.
The setback comes as Nepal seeks stronger international action to address the effects of rising temperatures on the Hindu Kush Himalaya, including accelerating glacier melt, changing snowfall patterns, floods and landslides. The country has argued that mountain regions face climate risks that require specific attention within global adaptation and climate finance frameworks.
Speaking to the Press Trust of India on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal said that the lack of support from major negotiating blocs had made it difficult to secure formal recognition for the mountain agenda. While some countries had supported the proposal, others remained reluctant to include it in the conference’s official negotiations.
The COP31 presidency has, however, agreed to continue consultations on mountains and climate change. Further research dialogues are expected to take place during United Nations climate meetings in Bonn, Germany, in 2027 and 2028. Nepal will therefore continue pursuing its objectives through consultations and existing climate negotiation mechanisms, despite failing to secure a dedicated agenda item at the current summit.
Nepal Himalayan Climate Agenda and the Push for a Dedicated Mountain Framework
Nepal and Bhutan jointly submitted a proposal titled “1.5°C Warming in Mountains”, calling for the effects of global warming on mountain regions to be formally considered at COP31. Kyrgyzstan separately sought to institutionalise an annual dialogue on mountains and climate change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The proposals aimed to address what mountain countries consider a gap in the existing international climate framework. Although climate negotiations cover mitigation, adaptation and climate finance, Nepal has argued that the particular vulnerabilities of mountain ecosystems require a more sustained and clearly defined process.
The joint proposal from Nepal and Bhutan called for greater scientific understanding of the consequences of 1.5°C warming and potential temperature overshoot in mountain regions. It also sought an annual high-level dialogue, a process towards establishing a dedicated UNFCCC work programme on mountains and climate change, and stronger recognition of mountain-related priorities in international climate finance arrangements.
Khanal identified three priorities for Nepal during the conference. These include recognising the urgency of limiting global warming to 1.5°C in mountain regions, establishing a dedicated work programme under the UNFCCC, and incorporating mountain-specific indicators into global adaptation and climate finance frameworks.
Nepal also wants mountain-related concerns integrated into the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) and the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG). Both frameworks form part of the broader international effort to strengthen climate resilience and mobilise financial assistance for countries facing climate-related risks.
Why the Himalayan Climate Crisis Requires International Attention
Nepal’s diplomatic campaign is rooted in the growing environmental and economic risks facing the Hindu Kush Himalaya. Rising temperatures are contributing to glacier retreat, permafrost degradation and changes in snowfall patterns. These developments can affect water availability, agriculture, hydropower generation, biodiversity and the safety of communities living in mountain regions.
The consequences extend beyond countries with mountainous geography. Major river systems originating in mountain ranges supply freshwater to populations across Asia and other parts of the world. Changes in glaciers, snow cover and rainfall can therefore affect downstream communities, agricultural production, energy systems and regional water security.
According to figures cited in The Kathmandu Post’s reporting, mountain ecosystems cover approximately 27 percent of the world’s land area and support around 15 percent of the global population. These regions also provide freshwater to nearly one-third of humanity through river systems originating in mountain ranges.
The Hindu Kush Himalaya is particularly important because its glaciers and snow-fed river systems support millions of people across several countries. Their deterioration creates interconnected risks that cannot be addressed solely through national climate policies. Nepal’s proposal therefore sought to make mountain climate vulnerability a more visible and permanent part of international negotiations.
Nepal Highlights Recent Disasters in Its Climate Justice Appeal
The urgency of Nepal’s position has been reinforced by a series of disasters affecting its mountainous regions. The August 26 mountain collapse and subsequent floods and landslides in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system caused extensive destruction across several districts, damaging communities and critical infrastructure.
Addressing the COP31 plenary, Khanal referred to the scale of the devastation and argued that Nepal was facing severe consequences despite contributing negligibly to global greenhouse gas emissions. He told delegates that more than 1,400 people had lost their lives and over 5,000 remained missing. He also estimated reconstruction costs at approximately one-tenth of Nepal’s entire economy. These figures were presented by the foreign minister in his address.
Khanal described Nepal’s appeal as a demand for climate justice, arguing that expressions of international sympathy following disasters must translate into practical support. His position reflects a wider concern among climate-vulnerable countries that those contributing least to global emissions often face disproportionate consequences from climate change.
Nepal has also highlighted its own climate-related efforts. Khanal pointed to the country’s community-managed forests, reliance on hydropower and growing adoption of electric vehicles as examples of its commitment to climate action. However, the government maintains that domestic measures alone cannot address the risks posed by global warming.
Climate Finance Remains Central to Nepal’s COP31 Demands
Alongside recognition of mountain-specific risks, Nepal has called for more accessible and predictable international climate finance. The country wants mountain-related indicators incorporated into adaptation and financing frameworks so that the particular needs of vulnerable communities are reflected in the allocation of resources.
Nepal has emphasised the importance of grant-based financial assistance, particularly for countries facing substantial costs from climate-related disasters. It has also called for stronger support for scientific research, technology transfer, institutional capacity and early warning systems.
At COP31, Secretary at Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Rajendra Prasad Mishra, stressed the need for adequate and predictable grant-based assistance. He also highlighted calls from the Least Developed Countries Working Group for adaptation finance to increase at least threefold to support the implementation of National Adaptation Plans.
For Nepal, the issue is not limited to securing funding after disasters have occurred. Investment in climate adaptation, risk assessment and preparedness is also essential to reducing future losses. Mountain-specific indicators could help ensure that the environmental and social vulnerabilities of high-altitude communities are properly considered within international funding arrangements.
What Happens After Nepal’s COP31 Setback?
The failure to secure a separate formal agenda item represents a diplomatic setback, but it does not end Nepal’s efforts to advance the Himalayan climate agenda. The continuation of consultations under the COP31 presidency and the proposed research dialogues in Bonn provide opportunities to keep mountain-related concerns within the UN climate process.
The challenge will be to turn these discussions into a more concrete institutional framework. Without a dedicated work programme or a formal mechanism for regular dialogue, mountain-related issues may continue to compete for attention within broader climate negotiations.
Nepal will also need to work with other mountain countries and climate-vulnerable states to build wider support for its proposals. The involvement of Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan demonstrates an effort to frame the issue as a shared international concern rather than a demand specific to Nepal.
As COP31 continues in Antalya from November 9 to 20, Nepal is seeking to ensure that mountain climate risks are reflected in the conference’s final decisions and future consultations. The outcome of these discussions will determine whether the country’s diplomatic efforts can translate into sustained international attention, stronger adaptation measures and more accessible climate finance for mountain communities.
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