Jomsom, Mustang | 14 August 2026
In a significant move to strengthen local action against climate change, Gharapjhong Rural Municipality of Mustang has formally invited all 753 local governments of Nepal to participate in a historic climate conference scheduled to be held in Jomsom on Bhadra 30 and 31, 2083 BS (mid-September 2026).
The conference is being organized to develop a shared national perspective on the challenges created by climate change and the strategies needed for climate adaptation and resilience. According to Chief Administrative Officer Bhim Kumar Basnet, the event aims to draw the attention of both the national and international community to the growing climate crisis affecting Nepal.
The invitations have been sent in coordination with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. Participants will include representatives from six metropolitan cities, 11 sub-metropolitan cities, 276 municipalities, and 459 rural municipalities.
Focus on Mountains, Hills, and Tarai
The conference will facilitate discussions on the different impacts of climate change across Nepal’s Himalayan, hill, and Tarai regions. Local governments are expected to present their experiences regarding disasters, environmental degradation, water scarcity, agricultural losses, and other climate-related challenges.
A major outcome of the gathering will be the proposed “Gharapjhong Declaration 2083,” a collective commitment by local governments to strengthen climate mitigation, adaptation, and disaster preparedness efforts.
Himalayan Declaration in the Shadow of Nilgiri
Organizers plan to hold extensive discussions in the Kali Gandaki corridor, the Muktinath area, and beneath the Nilgiri Himalayan range, with the intention of issuing a special climate declaration representing the concerns of Nepal’s Himalayan districts.
The declaration is expected to serve as a unified voice of local governments, urging stronger national and international support to address the escalating impacts of climate change in vulnerable mountain regions.
Photo Exhibition on Climate Impacts
As part of the event, a climate impact photo exhibition will also be organized. All local governments have been requested to submit photographs showing visible impacts of climate change by Bhadra 15, 2083 BS, along with written suggestions and issues that should be incorporated into the final declaration.
Growing Climate Threats in Mustang and Beyond
Mustang and other Himalayan districts have witnessed increasing incidents of snow avalanches, glacial lake outburst risks, floods, landslides, and riverbank erosion. Climate change is also affecting agriculture, livestock farming, cultural heritage, and biodiversity.
Local authorities have reported emerging problems such as irregular snowfall, drying water sources, shrinking grazing lands, and rising human-wildlife conflict, all of which are beginning to threaten traditional pastoral livelihoods and livestock-based economies in the Himalayan region.
With Nepal’s mountain ecosystems considered among the most climate-sensitive in the world, the upcoming Jomsom Climate Conference is being viewed as an important opportunity to build a coordinated local-government response to climate change and amplify the voices of vulnerable Himalayan communities on national and global platforms.
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