Opening Remarks

・Mr. Anshuman Varma (ESCAP) emphasized the importance of strong partnerships to advance glacier preservation and highlighted science diplomacy as a key to climate action. He introduced a significant milestone: the new glacier preservation resolution led by Tajikistan and adopted at ESCAP’s 81st Commission Session.

・Prof. Shahbaz Khan (APWF Vice Chair / UNESCO East Asia Regional Office) stressed that glaciers are lifelines for 2 billion people in Asia and raised strong concern that glacier melt and shifting seasonal flow patterns are becoming the “new normal.” He underlined the importance of building trust, promoting regional cooperation, and ensuring active participation of youth and indigenous communities through science diplomacy.

Keynote Presentation by Ms. Izabella Koziell, Deputy Director General, ICIMOD – Concrete Actions for Science Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation

・Ms. Koziell warned that the HKH region is warming at twice the global average, intensifying multi-hazard risks from glacier melt. To address these challenges, ICIMOD is advancing cooperation networks based on science diplomacy in the Indus, Brahmaputra, and Ganges river basins.

・She identified priority actions, including investment in glacier monitoring and early warning systems, deepening regional cooperation, promoting interdisciplinary research, and nurturing the next generation of leaders. She emphasized that glacier conservation is not only a scientific challenge but also a moral responsibility.

Key Panel Discussion Points

Six experts participated in the panel discussion, exchanging views on glacier melt impacts, black carbon effects, and the importance of integrating scientific and local knowledge for regional cooperation.

・Mr. Murodov Murodkhuja, Researcher, National Academy of Sciences, Tajikistan, stressed that about 80% of river flow in Central Asia relies on glacier melt, calling for enhanced monitoring and strengthened cross-border cooperation.

・Dr Qianggong Zhang, Strategic Group Lead, Climate and Environmental Risks, ICIMOD, highlighted that glacial retreat presents serious transboundary challenges in mountain regions, affecting downstream communities. ICIMOD’s collaborative model brings together regional countries to tackle these issues through joint efforts: (1) harmonizing Glacier Monitoringwith standardized methods for consistent, shared data, (2) capacity building, and (3) promoting Data and Technology Sharing via a Regional Information Service System to link upstream changes with downstream impacts.

・Ms. Sampriti Mukherjee, Super Pollutants Portfolio, Clean Air Fund, pointed out that black carbon is a significant accelerator of glacier melt. She proposed strengthening scientific monitoring, regulatory responses, community-driven solutions, and promoting an integrated agenda for air quality improvement and cryosphere preservation through science diplomacy.

・Dr. Anamika Barua, Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India, emphasized the importance of science diplomacy in building trust and cooperation across politically sensitive river basins in the Third Pole. Joint scientific research can inform water treaties, support conflict resolution, and foster a shared, evidence-based understanding. The roles of academic institutions are to provide neutral, transparent data to inform regional water governance. Current efforts focus on the anticipated Ganges Treaty, with research assessing the long-term impacts of glacier melt on water availability, aiming to support fair and future-proof negotiations between countries such as Bangladesh and India.

・Ms. Aisha Khan, Chief Executive, Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change, stressed the importance of local and traditional knowledge in mountain communities and called for a “people-centered diplomatic approach” that presents scientific knowledge in ways that align with local cultures and beliefs, fostering grassroots-level engagement.

・Ms. Susa Manandhar, The Small Earth Nepal (Youth representative) emphasized that youth play a critical role in bridging science, communities, and policy. She highlighted the transformative power of youth’s digital connectivity and global awareness, calling for intergenerational collaboration and early-stage youth engagement in policy processes.

・Dr. Faisal Qamar, ICIMOD, an online co-moderator, concluded the panel discussion by reflecting on several powerful messages shared by the panelists and emphasized the urgency of collective regional action grounded in science, trust, and inclusivity.

Closing Remarks – A Call to Action

In his closing remarks, Prof. Shahbaz Khan (APWF) presented five key recommendations to advance glacier-related knowledge and cooperation in the HKH region:

　　1.  Establishment of a Cryosphere Knowledge and Action Platform

　　2. Promotion of basin-level science-policy dialogue and diplomacy

　　3. Institutionalization of a regional science diplomacy forum

　　4. Increased investment in cryosphere resilience and nature-based solutions

　　5. Empowerment of youth and local communities as key actors