Warning that the Hindu Kush–Himalaya (HKH) region is warming faster than the global average—with accelerating glacier retreat, biodiversity loss and growing stress on water systems—the Kathmandu Declaration 2026 has called for urgent, coordinated action among countries to safeguard the future of nearly two billion people who depend on the region.
The declaration was adopted at the Himalayan University Consortium (HUC) Stakeholders’ Retreat held in Kathmandu on March 18–19, bringing together vice chancellors, academic leaders and development partners from across the HKH region. Often described as the “Third Pole,” the HKH spans eight countries and ten major river basins, supporting about a quarter of the world’s population.
Participants stressed that the scale and pace of environmental change in the region demand stronger regional cooperation, particularly through higher education and research institutions. The declaration underlined the role of universities in supporting governments to craft policies and solutions for climate justice, sustainable livelihoods and environmental protection, while affirming people’s right to a clean and safe environment.
The gathering also acknowledged the institutional transition of the HUC Secretariat from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to Kathmandu University in December last year. The shift is expected to give the consortium greater academic ownership and operational flexibility as it expands its regional footprint.
Reaffirming HUC’s mandate, the declaration emphasized the need to prepare a new generation of leaders equipped to understand mountain-specific challenges and design resilient solutions through research, education and cross-border collaboration.
To guide the transition, participants agreed to form an interim HUC Executive Committee chaired by Kathmandu University Vice Chancellor Prof. Achyut Wagle, with representation from universities in Nepal, India, Pakistan, Bhutan and China, alongside ICIMOD. The committee has been tasked with drafting new byelaws, convening the first General Assembly within a year, and developing a roadmap for the consortium’s institutional and financial sustainability.
The declaration also calls for the creation of dedicated working groups involving donors, diplomats and development partners to mobilize resources for HUC’s long-term programs.
With climate risks intensifying across the Himalaya, the Kathmandu Declaration signals a renewed push to align academic collaboration with policy action—placing regional cooperation at the center of efforts to protect one of the world’s most fragile yet vital ecosystems.
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