Key facts
- Nepal proposed a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism to foster cross-border cooperation on climate threats.
- India and China have long-standing territorial disputes in the Himalayan region.
- Himalayan temperatures are rising faster than the global average, accelerating glacier melt and increasing disaster risks.
- Past joint research initiatives between India and China on Himalayan climate change have seen limited success.
- China has ceased sharing hydrological data on key rivers with India.
Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah has urged India and China to collaborate on climate change risks in the Himalayas, a region facing accelerated glacier melt and increased disaster threats. Shah's proposal for a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism, presented at the UN General Assembly, aims to enhance cross-border disaster response and scientific data sharing. The initiative comes amid ongoing territorial disputes between India and China in the region. Experts highlight that while climate change poses a significant threat to the Himalayas, past attempts at bilateral cooperation on environmental issues have faced hurdles, including China's cessation of hydrological data sharing with India. Analysts suggest that while recent political engagement offers a glimmer of hope, unresolved border disputes and the potential military value of climate data may continue to impede progress.