ICIMOD Urges Asia-Pacific Leaders to Put Mountains at the Centre of Sustainable Development

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ICIMOD Urges Asia-Pacific Leaders to Put Mountains at the Centre of Sustainable Development

ICIMOD Urges Asia-Pacific Leaders to Put Mountains at the Centre of Sustainable Development

Ecosphere News Desk 2026-07-01 16:24:13

Kathmandu - The future of sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region is inseparable from the future of its mountain ecosystems, according to the Director General of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Pema Gyamtsho.
Speaking at the 9th Session of the Committee on Environment and Development (CED-9) during the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) High-Level Ministerial Conference, Gyamtsho stressed that protecting mountain ecosystems is essential not only for environmental conservation but also for ensuring regional water security, climate resilience, economic stability, and long-term sustainable prosperity.
Addressing ministers and senior government delegates, Gyamtsho noted that the Asia-Pacific region's mountain systems play a critical role in supporting millions of people through freshwater resources, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. He emphasized that the challenges facing mountains—including glacier loss, climate change, and ecosystem degradation—require coordinated regional action and stronger international cooperation.
Welcoming the growing recognition of mountains within global climate policy processes, Gyamtsho called on governments and development partners to move beyond political commitments and implement concrete measures to protect glaciers, restore degraded ecosystems, and strengthen the resilience and livelihoods of vulnerable mountain communities.
He also reaffirmed ICIMOD's commitment to working closely with UN ESCAP, its Regional Member Countries, United Nations agencies, and development partners to ensure that mountain priorities are fully integrated into regional sustainable development and climate action agendas.
The remarks come at a time when climate change is accelerating glacier melt and increasing the risks of water insecurity, biodiversity loss, and climate-related disasters across mountain regions, underscoring the need for collaborative action throughout the Asia-Pacific.

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Published Date 2026-07-01 16:24:13