A proposal by Nepal and Bhutan to make mountain climate risks a formal agenda item at COP31 was not accepted by the conference president, drawing criticism from leading climate advocate Harjeet Singh.Singh, global coordinator for the ‘Fill the Fund’ campaign and strategic partnerships advisor for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, criticised developed nations for their indifference to the growing crisis faced by Himalayan communities. He stated that the new agenda, titled ‘1.5 Degrees Celsius in Mountains’, was highly relevant and necessary given recent climate-induced disasters.Murat Kurum, the COP31 president and Turkey’s Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, agreed to further consultations and studies on the matter, but the proposal was not formally adopted. Nepal still hopes the issue will be prioritised in the conference’s final decision document.Singh emphasised that COP31 should be about justice, highlighting the reluctance of developed nations to address climate-induced loss and damage and their responsibilities. He urged that the risks faced by Himalayan and downstream communities should not be confined to mere dialogue.He also stressed that commitments made at climate conferences must translate into concrete financial support for vulnerable countries. According to Singh, finance for loss and damage provided to developing countries must be equitable, easily accessible, and sufficient. He warned against sidelining the financial needs of climate-vulnerable communities and limiting the fund to address loss and damage to the bottom of international climate talks.Singh argued that disasters in the Himalayas are not merely natural occurrences but are exacerbated by the expansion of fossil fuels and historical emissions from the developed world. He called on Nepal and Bhutan to use their diplomatic influence to hold countries accountable that impede progress on mountain climate justice.The two Himalayan nations have highlighted that rising temperatures, rapid glacial melting, changes in snow patterns, and climate-induced disasters threaten not only Himalayan settlements but also the lives and livelihoods of millions living in downstream areas. For instance, a 2026 flood in Bhote Koshi caused an estimated $2.7 billion in damages, with reconstruction costs projected at $4.7 billion, roughly 10% of Nepal’s GDP.COP31 is taking place in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9 to 20, 2026. The World Leaders’ Summit is scheduled for November 11 and 12, 2026. As of Thursday, November 12, 2026, the mountain issue has not been included as a formal agenda item.It remains unknown whether the mountain issue will be included in COP31’s final decision document, what concrete steps developed countries will take to address climate-induced loss and damage and their responsibilities, and if equitable, easily accessible, and sufficient finance will be provided for developing countries in the fund addressing loss and damage.
Background
- Nepal and Bhutan have consistently pursued diplomatic efforts to ensure that the unique climate problems and risks of the Himalayan region receive due attention in international climate talks.
- They proposed a new agenda titled '1.5 Degrees Celsius in Mountains' at COP31, seeking to mainstream specific risks faced by mountain ecosystems and communities into global climate discussions.
- Mountain-fed rivers provide water, food, and energy to over 200 million people in downstream areas, and nearly half of the world's biodiversity hotspots are in mountainous regions.
