COP31: Himalayas Agenda Excluded from Formal List as Developed Blocs Withhold Support

The news

A proposal by Nepal, Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan to include the Himalayas as a formal agenda item at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) has been left off the official list after failing to secure the backing of developed nations. The COP31 began on November 9, 2026, in Antalya, Turkiye, and is scheduled to conclude on November 20. Nepal's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, said on Tuesday that the three countries would continue to face challenges in getting the issue formally recognised without the support of major countries.

A source with direct knowledge of the discussions told PTI that the European Union did not show interest in the agenda, and that developing nations did not object to or block the proposal. Mr Khanal said several Least Developed Countries and mountain nations were positive, while developed countries were reluctant to take up a new agenda. He added that a research dialogue is expected during upcoming sessions at COP31, and the presidency has assured that a final text addressing mountain-related issues will be included in the conference's outcome document.

Nepal's push comes after the devastating August 2026 glacial lake outburst flood along the Nepal-China border, termed the 'Himalayan tsunami', which killed over 6,500 people. A joint report by the UN Environment Programme and the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative cited the event as a warning for other glacier-dependent regions. Mr Khanal said the Nepali delegation is seeking research assistance, financial support for adaptation and mitigation, and technology transfer including satellite monitoring of mountains and glaciers. In October 2026, the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage provisionally allocated USD 21.6 million for Nepal's recovery.

What is a COP agenda item and why does it matter?

Agenda items are the list of topics formally taken up for discussion at the Conference of the Parties each year. Inclusion on the formal agenda ensures that a subject receives dedicated negotiation time and can lead to a decision or text in the conference's outcome document. Without formal inclusion, the issue can only be discussed in side events or informal dialogues, limiting its impact on global climate policy.

What did the proposal seek and what was achieved?

Nepal's proposal emphasised the consequences of a 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature overshoot on the cryosphere, linking it to the August 2026 mountain collapse. The delegation sought research assistance, financial support for adaptation, mitigation and post-disaster reconstruction, and technology transfer including satellite monitoring. While the formal agenda item was not included, the presidency has assured that a final text on mountain-related issues will be part of the outcome document, and a high-level dialogue on mountain issues is expected during COP31.

What is the next step for the Himalayas agenda?

Mr Khanal said the world community is increasingly seeing the mountain issue as a core concern, and that positive momentum is building. A research dialogue is expected during upcoming sessions at COP31, and the presidency has committed to including mountain-related text in the outcome document. Nepal and its allies may need to build a broader coalition, including more developing nations and non-state actors, to push for a formal agenda item at COP32.