The Himalayan region, physically dividing and culturally uniting countries in Asia, ranges from Myanmar to Afghanistan and is home to nearly 53 million people. The Himalayas provide water, energy, and food to directly benefit 240 million people and indirectly support nearly 1.9 billion people living in its river basins. It is an important energy source, carbon stock, and biosphere reserve, and coined a critically important geo-ecological asset. The region is also connected to the largest labor force in the world and is rich in culture, languages, religions, and traditional knowledge systems.
In constant flux due to global and regional changes, the Himalayan region is both extremely vulnerable to climate change and severely under-equipped to deal with its cascading impacts on the environment and society. Yet, this geophysically and socioeconomically unique region has much to offer and provides a prime testing ground for innovative solutions and practices to approach today’s multifaceted challenges. There is an urgent need to consider the region’s growth trajectory against its environmental, social, and economic well-being to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future. A deeper understanding and adoption of green solutions, broad networks, and inclusive pathways will support the transition to the same.
Learn more about Himalayan Future Forum –
