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NEPAL MUST TAKE THE LEADERSHIP ON ISSUES RELATED TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE HIMALAYAS
The Himalayan system, which includes its outlying sub-ranges, deep valleys, and Terai, stretches across six countries: Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Besides performing several ecological functions, the Himalayas are the source of three of the world's major river systems- the Indus, the Ganga-Brahmaputra, and the Yangtze. Approximately 1.3 billion people live in the drainage basin of the Himalayan Rivers. Any imbalance in the natural environs of the Himalayas could have a catastrophic impact on the lives of hundreds of millions of people, and the globally significant bio-diversity that inhabits it. The Himalayas are Economic Assets the world cannot afford to ignore.
It is plain common sense that all agencies- whether government or non-government, private sector or a development partner of Nepal- must appreciate the risks associated with indifference and inaction on this front. To deal with Climate Change is in their strategic and business interests.
The humongous challenge at hand demands all to come together so that
- Climate Change as an issue within Nepal, rather than being considered as ‘just another environmental problem’ should be taken as a challenge to the national development imperatives.
- The international community recognizes that Nepal in particular and Himalayas in general needs their attention and support-on-priority to deal with this situation.
Though the Himalayan range spreads across six countries, a good share of its terrain including most of its highest peaks and active glaciers fall under the territory of Nepal. Relatively speaking, Nepal’s economy, its society and indeed its whole existence as a self-sustained nation revolves around the well being of the Himalayas and the ecological functions it provides. Nepal’ industrial base including its leading industries like Hydropower and Tourism are highly vulnerable to Climate Change.
It is an irony that Nepal despite being one of lowest per capita Greenhouse Gas emitting countries in the world is likely to suffer immensely by the impacts of Climate Change. It is imperative that Nepal should take a leadership position on finding solutions to deal with impacts of Climate Change in the Himalayas, and create solidarity among all Himalayan Countries so that the voice from the Himalayas is heard loud and clear in all debates on Global Warming.
