3 - 6 December 2017, Kathmandu, Nepal

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) sources of 10 major river systems in Asia that provide water, ecosystem services, and livelihoods to more than 210 million people. The region holds and distributes water for more than 1.3 billion people—a fifth of the world’s population—living in downstream river basins. 

Climate change and other drivers of change in the HKH have already begun to impact ecosystems and communities and often manifest in communities through an increasing vulnerability and exposure to natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and landslides.  There is a need to strengthen approaches for building resilience in the mountains, as resilience is required for achieving many of the SDGs, and neglecting mountain resilience will inevitably lead to sustainability challenges in the plains.

To address these issues, and others, ICIMOD jointly with the Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Population and Environment and with support from the European Union, is organizing an international conference entitled, “Resilient Hindu Kush Himalaya: Developing Solutions towards a Sustainable Future for Asia.” Bringing together more than 200 experts from around the globe, the Conference aims to identify, discuss, and jointly recommend possible resilient solution packages suitable for mountain areas. The Conference will approach resilience building for transformative change in the HKH from a holistic perspective, seen in the context of multiple change processes in mountain areas. By drawing on experts’ experiences of developing and implementing sustainable and resilient solutions, practical policies, and the latest knowledge on resilience, the Conference aims to deepen the commitment among concerned stakeholders and decision makers to find and implement resilient solutions in the HKH and downstream.

Themes

• Climate change and disaster risk reduction
• Water, food, energy security, and sustainable ecosystems
• Eradicating poverty and promoting social and gender equity
• Investing in mountain livelihoods

Features

• High-level panel discussions and internationally renowned thought leaders
• Innovative solutions marketplace
• Resilience building solutions poster and photo competitions and displays
• Daily news bulletins to share learning with a wider audience
• Satellite events on specific resilience themes
• Visit to ICIMOD Knowledge Park