Parliamentarians from across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, spanning Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, and Pakistan, are set to convene in Kathmandu on August 18 for the first-ever Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Meet 2025.

Organised by the Agriculture, Cooperative and Natural Resources Committee of the Federal Parliament of Nepal, in coordination with the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Planning Commission, and with technical support from ICIMOD, the event will address climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution.

This unique platform will unite political and parliamentary leaders on a single platform to discuss solutions for global challenges including climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution.

By engaging political and parliamentary leaders in joint discussions, the outcomes of this event have the potential to significantly contribute to the formulation of climate policies, climate adaptation measures, carbon emission reduction, and the development of regional strategies and action plans in the respective countries in the future.

The Agriculture, Cooperative and Natural Resources Committee of the Federal Parliament of Nepal has been engaging in timely discussions with various agencies regarding the mitigation of impact of environmental pollution, and the conservation of biodiversity.

It has also been actively participating in national and international platforms related to climate change.

In this context, the committee consulting with the Speaker of the Parliament and, in coordination with the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Planning Commission, and with technical support from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), is organising the Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Meet on climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss with countries from the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region: Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar and Pakistan.

The conference will be held at the Soaltee Hotel, Kathmandu, where Ramchandra Poudel, the President of Nepal, will be the chief guest and Devraj Ghimire will be the special guest for the event.

The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is facing multiple crises due to climate change, loss of biodiversity, pollution and rapid socio-economic changes.

"This is seriously making an impact on ecosystems, natural resources, livelihoods, and human life. Keeping this context at the centre, the main objective of this event is to foster shared understanding, dialogue, and co-ordination among the parliaments of the countries in this region, and to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, skills, and innovative ideas for policymaking, legislation and sustainable development," said the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD).

ICIMOD is an intergovernmental knowledge and learning centre working on behalf of the people of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).

One of the key features of this event is to bring together parliamentarians from the Hindu Kush Himalaya countries on a single platform to discuss solutions for global challenges such as including climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution.

The primary aim of this conference is to collectively identify, discuss and address various environmental and socio-economic challenges, needs, opportunities and possibilities to ensure build a sustainable future for the next generation.

Through this platform, members of parliament from the HKH region, distinguished guests representing governments, policymakers, diplomats, relevant experts, and youth will have an important opportunity to exchange the latest knowledge, up-to-date information, effective policies and exemplary parliamentary practices.

By sharing knowledge, experiences, ideas, and best practices, the meeting will help identify ways and means to address common challenges through regional cooperation.

This conference aims to enhance parliamentary understanding and practices in innovative ways regarding key issues related to climate change, biodiversity loss, and air pollution, as well as shared challenges and opportunities.