27 August 2026 – Amidst experiencing devastating impacts of climate change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, parliamentarians from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan shored up commitment to strengthen policy support to enable resilience building in the region. This came at the close of the Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Meet held in Thimphu, Bhutan from 26 to 27 August 2026.
The HKH is a globally significant mountain region with fragile ecosystems threatened by impacts of climate change. The Himalaya is now experiencing rapidly melting cryosphere, profoundly affecting water availability, increasing disaster risks, damaging infrastructures, degrading ecosystems, and threatening food, energy and water security, and well-being for over two billion people across the region.
This call for the urgent development and implementation of enabling policy support and regional collaboration to combat climate change impacts has been firmer and more relevant in the light of the recent devastation caused by the flood in the China-Nepal border in the Rashuwa district of Nepal.
“On behalf of the Royal Government of the people of Bhutan, I offer my deepest condolences to the people of Nepal and especially to the families who lost loved ones. This gathering shows that the future of the Hindu Kush Himalaya deserves scientific attention, but science alone is not enough. It also demands political attention because science can tell us what is happening, but ultimately political leadership decide what we do about it. Science alone cannot protect our people. Science needs to become policy, policy must become budget, budget must become action and action must reach our communities. That is where parliamentarians matter,” said His Excellency Lyonchhen Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan.
Mandated to safeguard the peoples’ lives, livelihoods, and wellbeing of the HKH countries, Parliamentarians acknowledged the interconnected nature of the risks and impacts that transcend national boundaries and require strengthened regional cooperation, mutual trust, and collective and coordinated actions.
Clearly defined in the two-day meet are the six levers of Parliamentarians to translating evidence to action – Legislate- embed resilience across laws and sectoral policy, Allocate-put predictable resources towards adaptation priorities, Oversee-track implementation results and who benefits, Represent- bring lived realities and diverse knowledge, Anticipate-prepare for future risks not yesterday’s climate, Convene and Cooperate- build cross party and transboundary action.
Testament to this is the signed declaration among the four HKH countries, with salient provisions as follows:
Strengthen HKH-level parliamentary cooperation through regular dialogues and peer learning through collaborative platforms, and exchange of experiences on issues of common regional concerns and advocate for stronger recognition of mountain ecosystem and support for mountain communities within global climate processes, through enhanced representation of parliamentarians and other key stakeholders.
Promote evidence-informed and inclusive parliamentary practices by encouraging the use of scientific knowledge, regional assessments, and indigenous and local knowledge, Explore the possibility of Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Forum on climate change and sustainable mountain development to strengthen parliamentary dialogue and cooperation and share updates on progress made.
Request the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to continue to facilitate and organise the third edition of the meet at a mutually convenient date and time.
Bangladesh expressed interest to hosting the HKHPM 2027 in Dhaka, which the delegations welcome to continue the collaboration and commitment to discuss and implement shared challenges through shared solutions among the HKH countries.
The HKHPM provided a platform for parliamentarians to exchange experiences, discuss emerging climate risks and explore how policies, legislation and public investments can better support adaptation and resilience. It also aims to strengthen dialogue between countries and encourage greater regional cooperation on climate challenges that transcend national boundaries.
Parliamentarians from the four HKH countries, include, Hon. Muhammad Nawshad Zamir, Hon. A B M Mosharrof Hossain and Hon. Muhammad Nazibur Rahman from Bangladesh; Hon. Sangay Khandu, Deputy Speaker, National Assembly of Bhutan. Hon. Phuntsho Rapten, National Council of Bhutan, Hon. Nima Wangdi, Hon. Tashi Tenzin, Hon. Ugyen Lama from Bhutan; Hon. Ashok Kumar Chaudhary, Hon. Poonam Kumari Agrawal, Hon. K P Khanal and Hon. Gita Kumari Sendang from Nepal and H.E. Dr. Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal from Pakistan.
