Multi-Stakeholder Conference on Cryosphere Change, River Systems, and Youth Engagement in Nepal and the Asia-Pacific Region
We, the national and international participants from across the Asia-Pacific region, have come together to participate in the Multi-Stakeholder Conference on Cryosphere Change, River Systems, and Youth Engagement in Nepal and the Asia-Pacific Region in Nagarkot, Nepal, on 17 July 2026. We, the participants, collectively represent government agencies, scientific and academic institutions, civil society organizations, youth networks, members of the Friends of the Earth APAC region, development partners, gathered to deliberate, reflect, and share insights on impacts of cryosphere change on mountain ecosystems, river systems, biodiversity, livelihoods, and communities throughout Nepal and downstream across the sun-continent.
We recognize that the accelerating retreat of glaciers, lake expansion, increasing risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), changing river flow patterns, and growing climate-induced disasters are among the critical challenges of our generation. These disasters have enormous human impact, environmental impact, health impact, economic impact, livelihood impact, infrastructure damage, with disproportionate consequences to nations and people, Indigenous communities, women, youth, and other vulnerable population downstream.
We reaffirm that the cryosphere is a global public good whose protection is a shared responsibility, global cooperation requiring urgent international cooperation, ambitious climate action, and an unwavering commitment to climate justice for present and future generations. While countries like Nepal contribute only a negligible share of global greenhouse gas emissions, they bear a disproportionate and unjust burden of climate change impacts.
The disproportionate burden borne by climate-vulnerable countries demands that those most responsible for the climate crisis take commensurate responsibility through ambitious mitigation, substantially enhanced support for adaptation, accelerated technology transfer, and scaled-up, accessible climate finance, including dedicated funding to address loss and damage.
It is long past time to heed the United Nations Secretary-General’s stark warning: “We are digging our own graves.” Every delay, every short-sighted decision, and every continued investment in fossil fuels deepens the climate crisis and its devastating consequences. This is no longer a distant prediction—it is the lived reality of millions facing catastrophic floods, retreating glaciers, rising seas, and increasingly extreme weather. The era of incremental action is over. What this moment demands is urgent, ambitious, collective, and transformative action.
Following our discussions, we jointly call upon governments, regional bodies, international organizations, financial institutions, the private sector, civil society, and citizens to:
- Accelerate ambitious action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.
- Prioritize the protection of glaciers, mountain ecosystems, and river systems in national, regional, and global climate agendas.
- Strengthen scientific research, cryosphere monitoring, hydrological observation, and open data sharing to support evidence-based policy and decision-making.
- Expand community-centered early warning systems, GLOF risk reduction, disaster preparedness, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
- Promote integrated river basin management that protects freshwater ecosystems, biodiversity, and environmental flows while ensuring equitable access to water resources.
- Ensure that climate policies uphold environmental justice, human rights, gender equality, and the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and marginalized groups.
- Recognize and institutionalize youth as equal partners in climate governance by creating opportunities for leadership, innovation, research, advocacy, and decision-making at all levels.
- Increase accessible, predictable, and adequate climate finance for adaptation, locally led resilience, ecosystem restoration, and addressing loss and damage in vulnerable mountain countries.
- Strengthen transboundary and regional cooperation among Himalayan and Asia-Pacific countries on cryosphere science, river governance, disaster risk reduction, and knowledge exchange.
- Support and protect environmental human rights defenders, researchers, journalists, and civil society organizations working to advance environmental protection and climate justice.
We also take this opportunity to commit ourselves to strengthening collaboration across sectors and borders, promoting science-informed and community-led solutions, amplifying youth voices, and advancing advocacy for policies that protect glaciers, rivers, biodiversity, and the rights of present and future generations.
Adopted unanimously in Nagarkot, Nepal, on 17 July 2026, this Declaration represents our collective commitment to transform concern into action and solidarity into lasting partnerships for a resilient, just, and sustainable future
We once again demand that the international governments deliver on their commitments to reduce global warming and translate into action their commitment to climate justice.
Signed by
Friends of the Earth Asia Pacific and special guests/experts, and participants (listed below)
| Dr. Surya Dhungel (Chief Guest) | |
| Dr. Arun Bhakta Shrestha | ICIMOD |
| Mr. Niraj Shankar Pradhananga | Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), |
| Dr. Mohan Bahadur Chand | Department of Environmental Science, KU |
| Ms. Sunwi Maskey | Cryosphere Society of Nepal |
| Dr. Bishnu Bhusal | Environmental Lawyer / Mountaineer |
| Mr. Rajan Subedi | Oxfam in Nepal |
| Dr. Kapil Gyawali | Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) |
| Dr. Ramesh Raj Pant | Central Department of Environmental Science |
| Dr. Ngamindra Dahal | Nepal Water Conservation Foundation (NWCF) |
| Ms. Sandhya Risal | Nepal Law Campus |
| Ms. Aakriti Dotel | Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) |
| Ms. Dikshya Subedi | Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) |
| Ms. Sindhu Sharma | Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) |
| Ms. Sujita Lamsal | Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) |
| Ms. Aastika Bhujel | Climates Nepal |
| Ms. Pragya Marasini | Climates Nepal |
| Mr. Chheten Rinzen Sherpa | Climates Nepal |
| Mr. Kishor Bohora | International Union for Conservation of Nature |
| Ms. Rashmi K.C | UN Global Compact Network Nepal |
| Mr. Yam Bam | Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists |
| Ms. Anuja Shrestha | TEWA Nepal |
| Mr. Bijay Dallakoti | National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) |
| Mr. Rahul Dewan | ActionAid Nepal |
| Mr. Binod Deuba | Hariin Nepal |
| Mr. Rupesh Karn | Digo Bikas Institute |
| Mr. Rajesh Sada | WWF Nepal |
| Mr. Krishna K.C | Nagarik Daily/ Republica |
| Mr. Achyut Koirala | News 24, Nepal |
