International meet calls for setting up EWS stations across Himalayas

KATHMANDU: An international conference on climate change, attended by experts from countries including India, today underlined the need to install more stations across Himalayas so as to receive benefits from the early warning system in case of climate-change induced disasters.

"Mountains have not received due recognition in global and national development agenda," Executive Director of International Centre for Integrated Development of Mountains ( ICIMOD) David Molden said.

"Key messages and outcome from the conference will be taken forward by the participants in regional adaptation efforts and global forums, including the discussion tables of COP 20 in Lima, Peru in December 2014," he said.

"It is crucial that knowledge from the Hindu Kush Himalayas and mountain region is given a strong voice in these processes," Molden said.

The experts underlined the need to install more stations in disaster-prone high altitude areas across the Himalayas and approve communication system, so as to receive maximum benefits from the early warning system in the case of climate-change induces disasters.

"Development could be undercut by issues related to climate change and adaptation. Keeping these issues in the global agenda is not only essential, it is imperative as well," said Jamie McGoldrick, UNDP Nepal director.

"The climate change issues, mainly those related to water and energy will also be discussed during the deliberations in the forthcoming Summit of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC)," said Secretary in the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environmenent , Government of Nepal, Krishna Chandra Poudyal.

It is always relevant to raise trans-boundary issues such as water, pollution and climate change during the SAARC meetings, he said.

The four-day conference, attended by experts and government officials from countries including India, concluded here today.

The conference on "Mountain People Adapting to Change" was organised with the goal of exploring holistic solutions for adaptation to change in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region.

Experts and government officials from more than 20 countries including, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, China and Pakistan had gathered in the conference to stress on the need for greater involvement of rural mountain communities and the need to better integrate scientific and traditional knowledge for effective action.

The conference was attended by some 250 scientists, climate change experts, policy makers, government representatives, high dignitaries and journalists who took part in various discussions on a wide range of to of topics.