Climate Himalaya Initiative

Why the Initiative

It is evident that, the Hindu Kush Himalayan region is in a state of crisis, affecting the vulnerable population in the region due to various environmental issues. At firsthand the region lacks in coordinated and comprehensive research, whereas the pool of research on various aspects remains a great deal of academic and policy research on various scientific and developmental front. The research is done in uncoordinated manner and is often not shared effectively in the region. There is a sheer knowledge gaps and lack of understanding on various climatic issues, while, no adequate shared understanding about the regional problems as a whole, and no ‘map’ of potential risks.

By recognizing various ongoing climate change phenomena and their impact, a group of people and organizations have proposed a collaborative initiative, called ‘Climate Himalaya Initiative, towards Sustainable Mountain Development during early 2010. The initiative partners feel that, there is the need to close this knowledge gap in the Himalayas through strengthening the capacities of people and institutions, generating awareness, developing leadership in the region and by conducting vulnerability mapping exercise.

This initiative advocates for the reform in the present environment governance system in Himalayan Mountains by developing; an interactive platform, scientific and practitioners’ database, a vibrant leadership network, capacities of people and organizations, and keeping close watch on various climate change adaptation processes.

The Prakriti, a mountain environment group www.prakriti-india.org hosts the Secretariat for this initiative in state of Uttarakhand, India.

Launch of Initiative

The initiative has been officially launched on 5 June 2010, on the occasion of World Environment Day in partnership with IWRS at IIT Roorkee and Times Foundation New Delhi.

Vision

The vision of Climate Himalaya Initiative is to serve as a link between practice, science, policy and decision making, for Sustainable Mountain Development.
 

Objectives of Initiative

• Developing a scientific and practitioners database (Knowledge platform) on climate change in Himalayas
• Developing a vibrant advocacy and Climate Action Network in Himalayan region
• Developing capacities of people and organizations on various climate change related issues
• Develop an interactive platform for advocacy, research and capacity building needs
• Keeping a close watch on climate change adaptation processes in the region

Partners of Initiative

Organizational partners include: Times Foundation India, The Third Pole UK, The Climatedeal UK, Aranyak India, Beej Bachao Aandolan India, Zee News My Earth my duty India, and Prakriti group India. There are over 400 individual members of the initiative.

What is Happening Now (August 2010)

During this phase the initiative focuses on partnership and interactive platform building, and developing a long term strategy. In its next phase, starting for end of 2010, there will be series of meetings, workshops, discussions and efforts towards strengthening partner’s involvement, capacity building, deepening the actions and closely watching the Climate Change processes in Himalayan Mountains.

Scope of Work

Initially the initiative focuses to Indian Himalayas, while in future it intends to work in other Himalayan Countries through partner’s involvement.

Contact details

Secretariat
Climate Himalaya Initiative, C/O Prakriti, P.O. Silli, Agastyamuni, District-Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand India PIN 246 421

Email: info@climatehimalaya.net, knvajpai@prakriti-india.org
Websites:  http://www.climatehimalaya.net and http://chimalaya.org