Nepal and Bhutan have jointly proposed a dedicated agenda item on temperature rise in the Himalayan region at COP31, the United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled in Antalya, Turkey, from 9 to 20 November 2026. The proposal, submitted under Rule 12 of the conference's draft rules of procedure, calls for greater international attention to the accelerating climate crisis gripping mountain ecosystems and the billions who depend on them.

What the Proposal Demands

The joint proposal is titled '1.5-Degree Temperature Rise in the Himalayan Region' and was submitted on behalf of both countries by Nepal's Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Geeta Chaudhary. It calls for scientific studies on temperature rise in the Himalayas and the consequences of breaching global warming thresholds.

Beyond research, the two nations have proposed an annual high-level dialogue on mountains and climate change and the launch of a formal process to develop an action plan for Himalayan ecosystems under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). They have also urged that mountain region priorities be embedded into global negotiations on climate adaptation, climate finance, and loss and damage.

Why the Himalayas Are a Climate Flashpoint

The proposal warns that changes already under way pose risks of irreversible damage to Himalayan ecosystems. Rivers originating in the region supply water, food, and energy to more than two billion people living downstream, while the Himalayas contain nearly half of the world's important biodiversity areas, according to the submission.

Rising temperatures are accelerating glacier melt across the range, compounding water insecurity and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events. This comes amid a broader pattern of worsening high-altitude disasters that have drawn mounting concern from scientists and governments alike.

Recent Disasters Anchoring the Case

The proposal draws directly on two recent catastrophes to underscore the urgency. On 26 August 2026, devastating floods struck Nepal's Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems, triggered by an avalanche that dammed a river upstream. A Rapid Disaster Needs Assessment prepared by the Nepali government estimated the floods caused approximately $2.7 billion in damage, with recovery and reconstruction expected to require a further $4.7 billion.

In Bhutan, a flash flood on Thursday night — triggered by the bursting of the Shintaphu glacial lake — washed away infrastructure at the Gasa Tshachu natural hot springs. No casualties had been reported as of Friday, according to reports. Notably, this is the type of glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) that scientists have long warned will become more frequent as Himalayan temperatures rise.

The Larger Stakes at COP31

Mountain nations have historically struggled to secure dedicated space within the sprawling COP agenda, where the concerns of larger emitters and low-lying island states tend to dominate. The Nepal-Bhutan joint submission is a strategic move to change that dynamic — arriving at a moment when loss-and-damage financing and adaptation funding are among the most contested items on the global climate table.

If accepted, the agenda item would represent the first formal UNFCCC-level acknowledgement of the Himalayan region as a distinct climate zone requiring tailored international action. The outcome at Antalya will be closely watched by other mountain nations across the Hindu Kush-Himalayan belt.