The flood-hit Himalayan nations seek formal UN recognition of mountain risks, scientific assessments and dedicated finance at the ongoing COP31 in Türkiye amid accelerating glacial threats.

Nepal and Bhutan have jointly proposed a dedicated agenda item on mountains and climate change for the COP31 summit opening in Antalya, Türkiye, seeking to elevate the unique vulnerabilities of high-altitude regions within the formal United Nations climate process.

In a submission to the COP31 presidency and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, the two Himalayan countries called for an item titled “1.5°C Warming in Mountains.” The proposal aims to institutionalise mountain issues as a regular feature of global climate negotiations, with a focus on scientific assessment of risks from warming that exceeds the 1.5°C threshold, an annual high-level dialogue, a dedicated work programme and improved access to climate finance.

The initiative comes in the wake of catastrophic glacial flooding in Nepal in late August 2026. A rock-ice avalanche from the northern slopes of Langtang Lirung triggered a cascading debris flow and flood along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems, devastating communities near the China-Nepal border. Official figures indicate more than 1,400 deaths in Nepal, thousands still missing, and economic losses estimated at around $2.7 billion, with reconstruction needs reaching approximately $4.7 billion – equivalent to roughly 10 per cent of Nepal’s gross domestic product.

Escalating Risks in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

The Hindu Kush Himalaya region, often described as the “Third Pole,” stores vast ice and snow reserves that feed major river systems supporting nearly 240 million people living in the mountains and hills and a further 1.65 to 2 billion people downstream across multiple countries. These rivers provide critical water for agriculture, energy and daily life across South Asia and beyond.

Temperatures in the region are rising faster than the global average. Glaciers have been losing ice at accelerated rates, with studies showing significantly faster melt in recent decades. Even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C, mountain areas are projected to experience higher local increases, threatening glaciers, snow cover, permafrost, biodiversity, food systems and hydropower infrastructure. On current trajectories, large portions of glacier volume could disappear by the end of the century, intensifying risks of glacial lake outburst floods, flash floods and landslides.

Nepal’s Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Geeta Chaudhary submitted the proposal on behalf of both governments under the conference rules of procedure. Officials have emphasised shared threats across the Himalayan region, including glacier instability and the need for cross-border cooperation on early warning systems, data sharing and disaster risk reduction.

What the Proposed Agenda Item Seeks

The submission outlines four key areas for international action. First, it calls for deeper scientific research into the impacts of 1.5°C warming and potential temperature overshoot specifically on mountain ecosystems. Second, it seeks the institutionalisation of an annual high-level dialogue on mountains and climate change within the UNFCCC process. Third, it proposes initiating a dedicated UNFCCC work programme on mountain ecosystems. Fourth, it urges the integration of mountain-specific priorities into adaptation frameworks, climate finance arrangements and loss-and-damage mechanisms.

Supporters argue that mountain regions have received insufficient dedicated attention compared with other climate priorities such as oceans or forests, despite their outsized role in global water security and their heightened sensitivity to warming. The proposal builds on earlier discussions, including a Dialogue on Mountains and Climate Change held earlier in 2026, and seeks to advance outcomes from previous COP meetings.

Broader Context of Climate Vulnerability

Mountain communities often face limited adaptive capacity due to remote locations, fragile economies and dependence on climate-sensitive resources. Downstream populations, including major agricultural and urban centres in South Asia, rely on the stable flow of Himalayan rivers. Disruptions to these systems threaten food production, energy generation and water availability for hundreds of millions of people.

The August disaster highlighted cascading risks: an initial high-elevation failure rapidly transformed into a long-runout debris flow and flood that destroyed hydropower facilities, roads, bridges, settlements and a key border trade port. Similar threats exist across the region, with assessments identifying numerous potentially dangerous glacial lakes.

International observers note that while the proposal has formal status as a supplementary agenda item, its inclusion and substance will depend on negotiations among Parties at COP31. Previous efforts to establish stronger mountain-focused processes have faced mixed support, with some countries favouring integration into existing tracks rather than standalone items.

Nepal has already linked recovery needs to loss-and-damage mechanisms, submitting claims related to the disaster. Bhutan, which has long prioritised environmental conservation, brings complementary experience in balancing development with ecological limits. Together, the two countries are seeking to rally broader Himalayan and mountain nation support.