Kathmandu, June 2025 - The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is spearheading global mountain advocacy efforts, marking 2025 as a pivotal year for addressing mountain issues within the global climate discourse.
The organization's influence has been integral in several key international events this year:
The launch of the International Year for Glaciers’ Preservation and the first UN Glaciers Day at UNESCO headquarters in Paris in March.
The Sagarmatha Sambaad summit in Nepal, held in May, bringing global attention to mountain sustainability.
Tajikistan’s International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in May.
The UN Ocean Summit in Nice, which concluded last week, initiating the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences.
Mountain Advocacy in Bonn
ICIMOD’s high-level delegation, led by Director General Pema Gyamtsho, is now set to attend the ‘Bonn Sessions’ of the United Nations Framework Convention Committee on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This critical forum will see discussions under the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), laying the groundwork for the upcoming COP30 in Belem, Brazil.
The Bonn delegation also includes:
David Potter, Regional and Global Head
Kunzang, Global Advocacy Lead
Pradyumna JB Rana, Global Engagement Manager
The discussions are poised to influence global commitments toward climate action under the three key pillars: mitigation, adaptation, and addressing loss and damage.
Asia’s Role in the Climate Crisis
Asia’s position is critical in the global climate agenda. With over 50% of global greenhouse gas emissions originating in the region, and its reliance on rivers fed by Himalayan snow and ice melt, Asia faces disproportionate exposure to climate impacts. Yet, this region also holds the potential to lead global decarbonization and green transitions.
John Pomeroy, co-chair of the UN International Year for Glaciers’ Preservation, emphasized, “The loss of mountain snow and ice has profound global implications. Asia’s decisive action on emissions reduction could safeguard its ecosystems, populations, and economies, while setting a precedent for global change.”
COP30: A Critical Turning Point
The upcoming COP30 in Brazil is expected to be a landmark event, where nations will outline their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These commitments come at a crucial time, with concerns mounting over the possibility of surpassing the 1.5ºC temperature threshold set by the Paris Agreement in 2015.
Call to Action
ICIMOD invites stakeholders and policymakers to join their events or schedule bilateral meetings during the Bonn Sessions. Updates and outcomes from the sessions will be shared on ICIMOD’s social platforms.
