The Small Earth Nepal (SEN), Tribhuvan University, ICIMOD, and UNESCO jointly organized an Open Forum Discussion with Distinguished Professor John Pomeroy on “Science, Prediction, and Response to the Global Decline in Mountain Snow and Ice” on February 27, 2025, at ICIMOD, Nepal. The event was also co-organized by the Cryospheric Society of Nepal, Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre (KIRDARC), SOHAM-Nepal, and Kathmandu University (HiCCDRC).
The discussion was moderated by Dr. Dhiraj Pradhananga, President of SEN and Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability, bringing together experts, researchers, and policymakers to address the challenges posed by the rapid loss of mountain cryosphere and its far-reaching impacts.
Prof. Pomeroy is the UN Co-Chair of the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation (IYGP) Advisory Board, UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability, and Director of the Global Water Futures Programme at the University of Saskatchewan. His work focuses on mountain hydrology, climate change impacts, and water resource management.
The talk program is an initiative of the UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability as a part of International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 and also held as a pre-event for the upcoming Nepal National Glacier, Water, and Weather Week 2025 (17-23 March 2025). The program was attended by 65 diverse participants, including representatives from NGOs, INGOs, professionals, students and early career researchers from various academic institutions.
Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD, opened the program with remarks highlighting the pressing threats by Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF) and snowline shift in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region and the immediate need to act on it. Mr. Bhawani S. Dongol, Executive Director, SEN, briefly introduced the upcoming Nepal National Glacier, Water, and Weather Week (NNGWWW), emphasizing on collective action of several institutions and its importance for climate change awareness.
In the keynote presentation, Prof. Pomeroy delivered a powerful presentation shedding light on critical issues such as increasing rate of glacier retreat, shrinking snowpacks, and permafrost thaw due to global warming. He further discussed its consequences on hydrology, water resources, and mountain communities, emphasizing the urgent need for science-society collaboration to manage risks and ensure water sustainability. He highlighted the importance of research illustrating various groundbreaking research findings on high mountain cryosphere and impact of climate change on water security, ecosystems and the lives and livelihoods of people who depend on them.
The program was graced by the presence of veteran scientists of Nepal and advisors to SEN, Dr. Madan Lall Shrestha (Academician, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology) and Prof. Suresh Raj Chalise (Former Dean, Tribhuvan University). They highlighted the importance of scientific knowledge for managing risks of declining glaciers due to changing climate.
Ms. Sunwi Maskey, Cryosphere Research Associate, ICIMOD concluded the program with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all the speakers, organisers and the participants.
