ChimiMeeyohSeldon

"I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives and devastation caused by the sudden flash flood in Rasuwa, Bagmati Province, Nepal. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives and to all those enduring the consequences of this tragedy. I also extend my deepest appreciation to all those working tirelessly on the ground in response and rescue efforts. On behalf of ICIMOD, I extend our solidarity to the people and the Government of Nepal at this difficult time. We stand ready to support the ongoing response and recovery efforts, drawing on the knowledge, science, data, and expertise available to us. The speed and force of the flood, carrying large volumes of water, sediment, and boulders through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, are deeply concerning. The potential for impacts further downstream is a reminder of how quickly a hazard in the mountains can become a wider regional concern. It also reinforces the importance of timely information, early warnings, preparedness, and coordinated action. I am writing this message from Bhutan, where I am attending the Second HKH Parliamentarians’ Meet. Being here at this moment makes the importance of regional cooperation feel even more immediate and personal. The tragedy in Rasuwa reminds us that the mountains we share, the rivers that connect us, and the communities that depend on them cannot be separated by national boundaries. Neither can the risks we face. What happens in one part of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) can have consequences far beyond it. This is why we need stronger cooperation, not only in times of crisis, but before disasters strike. We must share knowledge and data, strengthen early-warning systems, improve preparedness, and ensure that information reaches communities in time to save lives." Read the full message from ICIMOD Director General, Pema Gyamtsho: icimod.org/directorate/stand…

A major flash flood struck Nepal’s Rasuwa district on Wednesday morning, sending a powerful surge of water, sediment and boulders through the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, raising concerns over further potential downstream impacts. “We are deeply saddened by this tragic disaster, which struck so suddenly and unexpectedly,” said Pema Gyamtsho, Director General of ICIMOD. “We stand in solidarity with the people and Government of Nepal during this difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and all those affected, and we are committed to providing support wherever possible.” According to local reports, water levels in the Bhote Koshi basin began rising rapidly around 9:00 AM local time on August 26. The flood breached riverbanks and travelled downstream through the Bhote Koshi River into the Trishuli River, with potential impacts extending into Nuwakot and Dhading districts. Scientists from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and partner institutions in Nepal and China are investigating whether the flood may have been triggered by an ice-rock avalanche originating from a high-altitude area. Read the full press release: icimod.org/press-release/maj… #RasuwaFlood #NepalFlood

Hindu Kush Himalaya has 63,700+ glaciers in the region. Some of these glaciers are monitored; many are not. Some countries have strong technical expertise, while others still face resource gaps in equipment, staffing, and long-term financing. Some datasets exist, but they cannot be easily compared or connected to tell a region-wide story of change and learnings. That is the gap ICIMOD’s new Regional Cryosphere Strategy for the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) sets out to close, standardising fragmented monitoring into a shared regional resource across the region. This strategy, developed by experts from ICIMOD and the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), proposes an approach that combines on-the-ground data, satellite images, training, and science to help people make better decisions on water, risks, and adaptation to a changing climate, and to help communities and ecosystems prepare for a changing mountain future. Access the strategy: doi.org/10.1007/s11629-025-0… to learn more about ICIMOD’s approach to strengthening cryosphere monitoring and climate resilience across the HKH. #HinduKushHimalaya #Cryosphere #ClimateChange #RegionalCooperation #ClimateAdaptation

What inspires the next generation of cryosphere scientists? Students in their final year of Master of Science, specialisation in Glaciology at Kathmandu University (KU) are exploring how cryosphere science can help tackle the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region’s biggest climate challenges – disaster risk reduction, efficient water management to leveraging artificial intelligence in climate research. The HKH’s water resources are under severe stress from climate change impacts. Building regional expertise in the cryosphere is a critical intervention to address existing data gaps. The two-year Master of Science programme was reintroduced at KU in August 2024 to strengthen cryosphere research capacity in the region. The programme is jointly implemented by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Kathmandu University, with support from the Government of Norway. #Glaciology #ClimateChange #WaterSecurity #SG1 #Cryosphere #ResearchCollaboration

“The lhasang, a Buddhist purification offering, is a Tibetan ritual that invokes deities. We are offering our lhasang to Yala Glacier and the peaks surrounding her – Khimshung, Dokphu, Tarna, Zokphu, Zangphu, Champu, and Serkori. The glacier and its surrounding peaks are more than just geographical features. They are guardians, deities, and perennial sources of guidance and blessings for the communities of Langtang Valley.” Through her blog, Chimi Seldon, Communication Officer, ICIMOD, takes you up to the Yala Glacier base camp and describes the unfolding of the Yala tribute organised in May 2025 to honour the glacier. #Glaciertribute #Climateaction #Cryosphere #MountainCommunity #SG1 Read more: blog.icimod.org/cryosphere-w…

Are you an early career cryosphere researcher from the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region? This is your opportunity to gain recognition for your work. ICIMOD is inviting applications for the HKH Cryosphere Early Career Scientist (ECS) Award, which celebrates exceptional research advancing our understanding of glaciers, snow, permafrost, and their links to climate change, water security, and mountain risks. The award offers: 🔹regional and international visibility for your research 🔹recognition within the HKH CryoHub and global cryosphere networks 🔹opportunities to connect with leading scientists, policymakers, and institutions If your work contributes to stronger science and more resilient mountain communities across the HKH, we encourage you to apply and be part of the next generation of cryosphere leaders. Read more about the eligibility criteria and apply: icimod.org/announcement/icim…

ICIMOD attended the launch of the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, which closed today. With unprecedented focus on the deglaciation of Earth’s mountains, and the terrifying implications those losses of snow and ice pose to lives, livelihoods, and economies, everywhere from Nice to New York, Kathmandu to Dushanbe, it’s crucial we don’t just state the problems, but that we stress the need for action. ICIMOD has started to develop a series of asks for our region – a zone of 54,000 glaciers and the largest ice reserves outside the geographic poles. We launched these at last month's High-Level Conference on Glacier Preservation in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, where ICIMOD was represented by Deputy Director General Izabella Koziell (@izabella_koz) and Head of Climate and Environmental Risks Qianggong Zhang, and Koziell restated these in key meetings during the Nice conference. To read Koziell’s statement at the “Climate Ambition” Leaders' Round Table of the International Conference on Glacier Preservation click here: blog.icimod.org/directorate/… Watch the video for the highlights of our HKH Asks, which include the need for 🔹Better monitoring 🔹Inclusive adaptation 🔹Local knowledge 🔹Integrated policy and 🔹Cross-border action To read our ‘Key HKH Asks’ click here: icimod.org/iygp2025/hkhasks Glaciers in the #HKH are the water towers of Asia, but these water towers are retreating at alarming rates. ICIMOD’s presence at these two global platforms amplified the need for transboundary cooperation, policy action and investment in adaption to secure the future of mountain communities and downstream populations. #SaveOurSnow #HKHMatters #CryosphereCrisis #ClimateAction #UNOceanConference #CryosphereDecade #Glacier2025

📰Press release: Requiem for a glacier: Tribute held in Nepal for one of the Hindu Kush Himalaya’s most-studied rivers of ice. Locals of Langtang, Nepal, and glaciologists from four glaciated countries in the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH) gathered to mark the accelerating disappearance of Nepal’s Yala Glacier in Langtang, Nepal, today. Yala, which has shrunk by 66% and retreated 784M since it was first measured in the 1970s is projected to be among the first Nepali glaciers to join the growing numbers of glaciers declared ‘dead’ worldwide. Over 50 people, including Buddhist monks and members of local community, and glacier experts from Bhutan, China, India, and Nepal completed the arduous high-altitude trek to attend the “poignant” tribute event today (Monday 12th), which featured a Buddhist ceremony, speeches, and the unveiling of two granite memorial plaques which will sit at the foot of where the glacier today stands. Read the full press release: icimod.org/press-release/req… #Yala #RequiemForYala #YalaGlacier #1Point5IsTooHot #SaveOurSnow

Glaciers are disappearing at an alarming rate, threatening water supplies, ecosystems, and livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. To focus global attention on this crisis and highlight the crucial role of high mountain areas as key sources of freshwater and other ecosystem services, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP 2025). The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are facilitating the implementation of IYGP 2025, in collaboration with governments and other relevant organisations. An advisory board and four task forces, representing over 75 international organisations and 35 countries, are overseeing the coordination of various activities. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is supporting the IYGP secretariat and is leading Task Force 2 – International conferences, regional workshops and capacity building. ICIMOD is member on all four task forces. Here are 13 key messages for IYGP 2025: un-glaciers.org/en/key-messa… #GlaciersPreservation #Glaciers2025 #Cryosphere #ClimateAction

This Thursday, join us to hear why the United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year for Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP) from John Pomeroy, the distinguished co-chair of the landmark global event, and one of the world’s top climate scientists. Professor Pomeroy is UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability, and Director of the Global Water Futures Programme at the University of Saskatchewan. With less than a month to go before the first ever World Glacier Day, which signals the start of the IYGP, hear his uniquely authoritative perspective on mountain cryosphere losses, and what those losses mean for water security, ecosystems and the people who depend on them. Seats are limited – secure your spot now, and bring your questions, ideas, and curiosity. Register here: forms.gle/4uXv63EB1gL1jpht9 This event is a tribute to 2025, which has been declared the International Year for Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP), marking the start of the Decade of Action on Cryospheric Sciences. Prof. John Pomeroy is the UN Co-Chair of the IYGP Advisory Board, UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability, and Director of the Global Water Futures Programme at the University of Saskatchewan. @Small_Earth @tu_information @UNESCO @NepalGlacier @IAHS_AISH #IYGP2025 #Glaciers2025 #HKHcryosphere #NepalNationalGlacierWaterandWeatherWeek