ICWRGC supported the ICMHC-2023, held in Kathmandu on 9 and 10 November 2023. The conference was organized by the Nepal Committee for the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), Himalayan Cryosphere, Climate and Disaster Research Center, Kathmandu University (HiCCDRC, KU) and The Small Earth Nepal (SEN). Dr. Stephan Dietrich was involved in the organizing committee, Dr. Luna Bharati was part of the scientific committee. Dr. Bharati delivered welcome remarks in the inaugural session, where she emphasized the need for connecting global and local data initiatives to local action and policies.
At the ICMHC-2023 inaugural session. Dr. Luna Bharati is pictured as second from left.
ICWRGC also organized a special session on “Data Services in Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Building in Mountain and Glacier Environments” together with colleagues from UNU-EHS and UNESCO.
Dr. Luna Bharati giving her presentation at the special session co-organized by ICWRGC.
The conference brought together 150 people from 17 countries including graduate and post-graduate scholars, researchers, engineers, planners, policymakers and development workers, to present their research activities. New observations, findings, and innovative ideas for the betterment of humanity and nature were shared over 75 presentations. The four key objectives of ICMHC-2023 were to:
- Advance understanding of mountain hydrology and cryosphere processes
- Assess the impacts of climate change on mountain water resources and ecosystems
- Develop innovative solutions for water management and adaptation to climate change
- Foster collaboration and knowledge exchange among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
ICMHC-2023 certificate for ICWRGC.
The Conference was a part of a series of events planned by ICWRGC, leading up to the UN International Year of Glacier Preservation in 2025, and followed a seminar on Glaciers in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Please see: https://waterandchange.org/en/workshops-almaty-en/
The ICMHC2023 was covered extensively by local media. Dr. Luna Bharati gave an interview on the impact of climate change on mountain and glacier environments. Watch the conference news coverage (In Nepali): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlPhHj8yiZc.
