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The Prime Minister of Nepal called for an alliance of mountain countries at a meeting of ministers during COP 15 in Copenhagen on 16 December.

The minister made his call during a side event organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development and the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research.

The event brought together high level dignitaries from the Hindu-Kush Himalayan countries to discuss and elaborate on the formidable challenges facing this unique and vulnerable, but vitally important, region. The meeting ended with a call by the Prime Minister, Madhav Kumar, for an alliance of mountain countries to enhance cooperation and ensure better representation of the mountains in the UNFCCC process.

Government ministers from Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Norway and Pakistan, were in attendance. The director general of ICIMOD, Dr. Andreas Schild, and the Director General of CICERO, Dr. Pål Prestrud, presented the case of the Himalayas. They highlighted the importance of adaptation within the region and the dire consequences of not addressing climate change.

Kumar regretted that the mountain agenda was not more prominent in the COP15 negotiations. He launched the idea of an alliance of the mountain countries to enhance cooperation and improve representation in the UNFCCC process. He also announced his intention to host a ministerial level conference on climate change in mountain countries in 2010.

Global warming is causing glacial melting, which in turn has negative impacts on water availability, agriculture, and livelihoods and is a threat to infrastructure development.

It was clear that the governments in the HKH region were also able to identify ways to reduce climate vulnerability in their countries. But their means are limited.

All delegations recognised a deficit of specific knowledge and information. They emphasised the need for regional cooperation in the exchange of data, common learning, and enhancing adaptation in a trans-boundary approach.

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