This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
On the occasion of the 11th Anniversary of Sikkim University, Eklabya Sharma, Deputy Director General of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), was invited to deliver the Foundation Day lecture. Titled Climate+ Change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya: Developing solutions to complex challenges at the intersection of environment and development, the lecture walked listeners through a host of issues unique and characteristic to the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). The lecture was delivered on 20 July 2018 in Gangtok, Sikkim, India.
Sharma started off by highlighting the significance and importance of the HKH as an important “water tower” and major food production area that supports close to a fourth of the world’s population. He then spoke of the many challenges that still persist in this region of rich natural and cultural diversity. Poverty, energy and food insecurity, and lack of disaster preparedness are major hurdles that the region is yet to overcome. Climate change has thrown up new risks and challenges for sustainable development in the HKH.
1 min Read
By sharing relevant data from the HKH on increasing temperature trends, glacier area loss, and changing precipitation patterns, Sharma explained how these factors are likely to affect the daily lives of people in the region, both upstream and downstream. There are, however, great efforts being made to counter, build resilience and adapt to changing environmental conditions. The use of community-based flood early warning systems, development of resilient mountain villages, and the adoption of improved brick kiln technology in the region, were cited as examples of concrete achievements made so far.
Sharma also emphasized the transboundary nature of these challenges in the HKH region. It is therefore important to adopt a holistic regional approach to understanding the issues as well as coming up with solutions. Hence, rather than thinking in terms of individual countries, Sharma highlighted the need to take a landscapes and river basins approach to better identify and address problems in the HKH.
Sharma concluded his lecture by briefly talking about ICIMOD’s Himalayan University Consortium (HUC), of which Sikkim University is also a member. He reiterated that the HUC platform offers a good base from which to share knowledge and discuss issues pertaining to the HKH collectively. Lastly, Sharma acknowledged Sikkim University as an important partner for ICIMOD and congratulated them on their special occasion.
Share
Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.
related content
ICIMOD is pleased to announce the four winners of the ICT for Mountain Development Award 2014. They are Avinash Jha ...
#塑战速决 (#BeatPlasticPollution) –今年世界环境日的三项行动 似乎没有任何地方可以免受塑料污染浪潮的影响：即使是地球之巅。上周在当地社区、登山者和政要前往纪念珠峰人类首登 70 周年时，ICIMOD 发起了我们新的 #拯救我们的雪（#SaveOurSnow）活动——一段视频显示被留在珠峰（南坡）大本营的堆积如山的塑料制品和其他垃圾的消息迅速传播开来。 但我们这代人可以扭转塑料潮流吗？随着谈判代表离开巴黎，同意起草一份具有国际法律约束力的条约草案以终结塑料污染，而在设立世界环境日的50周年呼吁采取集体行动来抵制它，有充分的理由充满希望。 同样重要的是，我们有充分的理由采取行动：塑料工业不仅是世界上增长最快的工业温室气体来源，而且塑料废物极大地加剧了兴都库什-喜马拉雅地区现有的气候变化、生物多样性丧失和污染等问题，ICIMOD 的 南亚网络开发和环境经济学（South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics ，简称SANDEE)。原因如下： 气候：固体废物——其中大部分是塑料——堵塞了排水系统，并增加了破坏性洪水，即由全球变暖引发的更频繁且更强烈的降雨事件引发的洪水。 生物多样性：塑料垃圾可能需要数百年才能分解，它们堵塞水道，其中的有害化学物质渗入土壤和水中，影响陆地和水生生物、生态系统和人类健康。 ...
ICIMOD along with key government organisations in the water supply sector were invited by the President of Nepal, Right Honorable ...
[caption id="attachment_7820" align="aligncenter" width="560"] The launch of the allo community training manual[/caption] The Kailash ...
The Himalaya region is among the most vulnerable parts of the world to climate change. Retreating glaciers reduce dry-season water ...
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), in collaboration with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), organized World Meteorological Day (WMD) ...
Namgyal was introduced to data, data types, data format, database structure, MODIS snow data, and database management. He also learned ...
