On top of that is our own unsustainable living that is creating large-scale havoc on the planet. They include construction of large dams, roads, and tunnels in the fragile Himalayan region. These activities together with the melting of glaciers due to global warming are bound to create worse natural disasters in the coming years.
The regional opportunity is particularly significant in electricity. Nepal and Bhutan can potentially export hydropower; India can provide the scale of demand and investment required to create a regional electricity market; Bangladesh can become an important electricity consumer; and Sri Lanka and Pakistan can expand solar and wind. Greater cross-border electricity trade could allow countries to exploit complementary renewable resources and reduce the need for expensive domestic backup capacity.
A genuinely regional approach could eventually include - besides Nepal, China and India - Bhutan and, where relevant, downstream institutions in Bangladesh. Organisations with established Himalayan expertise, particularly the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development in Kathmandu, could offer scientific and institutional support.
The Himalayas are not collapsing because humanity exists, but humanity is creating a warmer world in which the Himalayas are becoming less predictable. The real question is no longer whether climate change will alter the mountains. It already is.
A new UN report published on Wednesday warning that human right violations are increasing in Sri Lanka called on the international community to enhance monitoring and take measures to prevent recurrence of the policies and practices that gave rise to grave human rights violations in the past
According to the UN Women in Sri Lanka, while the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgency of economic empowerment for women and girls all over the world, there is a particular urgency to address the challenges being faced by female-headed households, which make up over a quarter of Sri Lankan homes
The United Nations Commissioner of Human Rights have called Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers to be investigated and prosecuted for ‘crimes against humanity’ and targeted sanctions against officials
US Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has reiterated his call for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines as the global caseload has surpassed the 100 million mark, another grim milestone as the pandemic rages on
As India, Brazil, Germany and Japan put forward efforts to reform the 15-member body of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and add seats of new permanent members, Pakistan has opposed the idea, stating that it would "kill the consensus-based process to make it more effective, representative and accountable."
Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima reiterated her country's deep commitment to the peacebuilding and sustaining peace efforts of the UN
In reaction to the Republic Day farmer protests in Delhi that turned violent, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for non-violence and for respecting peaceful protests
Bangladesh's economy will return to the high growth trajectory in the next fiscal year overcoming the scarring impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a United Nations report
UN human rights experts today urged the Sri Lankan Government to end its policy of forced cremation of the COVID-19 deceased, saying it ran contrary to the beliefs of Muslims and other minorities in the country, and could foment existing prejudices, intolerance and violence
The United Nations sees the Indian economy recovering by 7.3 per cent this calendar year after a coronavirus-driven fall of 9.6 per cent last year
After reports of a confrontation between their troops along the border in the Sikkim region, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hopes that India and China can reduce tensions through dialogue, according to his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric
Pakistan and India engaged in a heated debate, filled with accusations against each other, over deteriorating minority rights in each other's countries at the UN General Assembly (UNGA)
The United Nations has cautioned staff of all its agencies worldwide not to travel by any Pakistan-registered airline, including the national flag carrier, because of concerns over the allegedly dubious flying licences of its pilots
By 2050, most people on Earth will live downstream of tens of thousands of large dams built in the 20th century, many of them including India's already operating at or beyond their design life, putting lives and property at risk, a UN University (UNU) analysis revealed
Pakistan has rejected India's 'unwarranted assertions' at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) over the recent fire incident at a Hindu temple in K-P's Karak, as the general assembly adopted a resolution co-sponsored by Islamabad against damage to and destruction of religious sites
