Outlook on climate change adaptation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

Background

The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to the impacts of climate change. Wide-ranging threats are already impacting ecosystems and millions of people living in the region and downstream, and are also being felt across all sectors of society. In the face of new challenges brought about by climate change and its economic, social and environmental impacts, it is crucial that HKH countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan) increase their knowledge of climate change and its ongoing and projected impacts. In order to adapt to such impacts, HKH countries must also determine whether they have appropriate policies in place for ecosystems, peoples and sectors. As neighbouring countries face many common challenges, HKH countries must identify ways to adapt not only at the local and national levels, but at the international level, encouraging cooperation to strengthen their efforts and raise global awareness of shared goals in the important mountain region. While mitigating climate change remains essential if the world is to limit dangerous warming, adaptation to its effects is also needed, since many impacts are already being felt and will continue to intensify, even if the world manages to limit warming to 1.5°C or lower. This Outlook has been developed to address some of these critical information needs. The document synthesizes and analyses climate change adaptation policies and responses in the mountainous regions of the HKH, and examines whether these address key climate change risks.

This document has been prepared by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), GRID-Arendal and the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment), involving a number of national and international experts. It is part of a global series on adaptation to climate change in mountain regions, produced in cooperation with UN Environment. The series includes outlooks for the Tropical Andes, Central Asian, South Caucasus, Carpathian, Western Balkan and East African mountain ranges. This Outlook was created through an assessment process that followed four main steps. Chapter 1 introduces the HKH region, setting out the context and in particular, highlighting the links between its environmental and socioeconomic conditions, its vulnerability to climate change, and adaptation efforts. Chapter 2 identifies the main climate hazards, vulnerabilities of different sectors and key risks that are considered priorities to be addressed through adaptation policies. Chapter 3 outlines existing policies and strategies for climate change adaptation, while chapter 4 analyses the extent to which these measures can respond to the key risks identified (gap analysis). To determine key risks of climate change, the authors and contributors have followed the definitions set out in the Fifth Assessment Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (Oppenheimer et al., 2014).

Glossary

Important definitions of terms used in this report (IPCC, 2014): Adaptation: The process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects. In human systems, adaptation seeks to moderate or avoid harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In some natural systems, human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate and its effects. Adaptive Capacity: The ability of systems, institutions, humans and other organisms to adjust to potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to respond to consequences. Exposure: The presence of people, livelihoods, species or ecosystems, environmental functions, services, and resources, infrastructure, or economic, social, or cultural assets in places and settings that could be adversely affected. Hazard: Climate-related physical events or trends or their physical impacts. Impacts: Effects on natural and human systems, also referred to as consequences or outcomes. Risk: The potential for consequences where something of value is at stake and where the outcome is uncertain, recognizing the diversity of values. Vulnerability: The propensity or predisposition to be adversely affected. Vulnerability encompasses a variety of concepts and elements including sensitivity or susceptibility to harm and lack of capacity to cope and adapt.

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