Mountains of opportunity

A framework to scale up investment in mountain-specific climate priorities in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Programmes

COP 26

Venue

Cryosphere Pavillion, COP 26, UK

Date & Time

09 November 2021

Contact

Deepshikha Sharma & Udayan Mishra

Co-organized by: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICI MOD); Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through the British Embassy Kathmandu

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Event focus

In a consultative meeting held on 15 July 2021, delegates from the eight HKH countries, including UNFCCC national focal points and HKH HighLevel Task Force members – along with representatives from the COP26 Presidency – met to articulate a collective mountain voice for more ambitious climate action in the HKH at the COP26.

To accelerate climate action, ICIMOD has developed the “Mountains of Opportunity?’ investment framework to help HKH countries mobilize resources for mountain-specific climate priorities. The event will introduce the framework, which will support creation of a “Friends of the HKH” group consisting of governments, private sectors, financial institutions, and development partners to raise awareness around the climate crisis in the HKH and opportunities to strengthen the resilience of mountain communities and economies.

Agenda

Time	Programme
10:00–10:05	Welcome – Pam Pearson, Director, International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) Moderator: “Deepshikha SharmaClimate and Environment Specialist, ICIMOD
10:05–10:08	Welcome remarks – Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD
10:08–10:10	Screening of Sustainable Summits film (Trailer) Udayan Mishra, Knowledge Management and Networking Officer, ICIMOD
10:10–10:15	Video message – Rt. Hon’ble Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Nepal
10:15–10:30	Introduction of the Mountains of Opportunity investment framework Nanki Kaur, Regional Programme Manager, Adaptation and Resilience Building, ICIMOD
10:30–11:00	Remarks from the heads of delegation to COP26 from the HKH countries Bangladesh: H.E. Md Shahab Uddin M. P., Minister, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change Bhutan: H.E. Lyonpo Yeshey Penjor, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests Nepal: H.E. Ramsahay Prasad Yadav, Minister, Ministry of Forests and Environment Pakistan: H.E. Malik Amin Aslam, Minister, Ministry of Climate Change India: Shri Rameshwor Prasad Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change China: Mr. Sun Zhen, Deputy Director General of Climate Change Department, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, PRC
11:00–11:05	Remarks Jonathan Pershing, Deputy Special Envoy, United States of America Ken O’Flaherty, COP26 Regional Ambassador for Asia-Pacific and South Asia
11:05–11:10	Q&A
11:10–11:15	Closing remarks – Mr. Kewal Prasad Bhandari, Member Secretary, National Planning Commission, Nepal
11:15–11:20	Way forward and vote of thanks: – Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD