Submitted by ncckmc on
NCCKMC Organized Climate Change Forum 2026 in Phungling, Taplejung, Nepal
A climate change forum aimed at strengthening local dialogue, knowledge sharing, and policy coordination was held in Phungling on 22 Baishak 2083. The event, titled Climate Change Forum 2026, brought together local representatives, researchers, government officials, and sectoral experts to discuss the growing impacts of climate change in Nepal’s mountain region specially in Koshi province.
The programme was organized by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)-Nepal Climate Change Knowledge Management Centre (NCCKMC) in coordination with Phungling Municipality, Taplejung, Koshi Province.
Mayor Amir Maden chaired the opening session, while Chief District Officer Shivraj Sedhai attended as special guest of the forum. Speakers highlighted that climate change has emerged as one of the world’s most pressing challenges, with Himalayan and hilly districts like Taplejung experiencing increasingly visible impacts.
Dr. Bimala Devi Devkota, Chief Scientific officer at NAST, said climate-induced disasters such as erratic rainfall, glacier melt, floods, landslides, and declining agricultural productivity are becoming more frequent across the globe. She stressed the need to integrate climate concerns into local planning and budgeting processes and emphasized stronger coordination between scientific research, policymaking, and local experience.
Chief District Officer Sedhai noted that incidents of floods, landslides, soil erosion, and irregular rainfall have increased in Taplejung in recent years, affecting livelihoods, agriculture, and infrastructure development. He said expanding scientific and awareness-based programmes to remote Himalayan districts was a positive step toward building resilience.
During the technical session, experts presented data on global and local climate trends. Assistant Research Fellow (ARF) of NAST, Pashupati Adhikari warned that global temperatures are rising rapidly and that Nepal, despite contributing minimally to greenhouse gas emissions, remains highly vulnerable to climate risks. He pointed to accelerating glacier melt, the spread of diseases, and declining crop yields as growing concerns.
Forest Officer Lalit Kumar Yadav discussed the impacts of climate change on forests and biodiversity, stating that community forests in Taplejung have been promoting adaptation programmes such as herbal farming, beekeeping, and fruit cultivation to support local livelihoods.
Similarly, Crop Development Officer Muna Nyaupane said paddy production in the district has declined due to changing climatic conditions, while outbreaks of new pests and diseases have increased. She called for the expansion of climate-smart agriculture, drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, community seed banks, and weather-based advisory services.
Participants in the panel discussion also raised concerns about changing weather patterns, the emergence of new plant species in the region, and recent flooding in the Hewa Khola area. Experts explained that rising temperatures are shifting species habitats and that intense rainfall over short periods is increasing flood risks in mountain districts.
Concluding the event, Mayor Maden shared that farmer in the district have recently been facing new crop diseases and pest infestations. He underscored the need for further scientific research and called for at least one climate scientist to be assigned in every district. He also stressed that collaboration among all stakeholders is essential to address the growing climate crisis.