A recent synthesis report from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) reveals that India's portion of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region requires approximately $102 billion annually to cover the costs of climate change adaptation and mitigation, highlighting a critical funding shortfall in one of the world's most vulnerable mountainous areas.

The HKH region, spanning eight countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan, faces escalating threats from accelerating glacial melt, widespread biodiversity loss, frequent extreme weather events, and disruptions to vital water systems that jeopardize ecosystems and the livelihoods of hundreds of millions.

According to the report, the entire HKH region demands an staggering annual average of $768.68 billion—equating to over $12 trillion from 2020 to 2050—to adequately address these challenges, with China and India together accounting for more than 92% of the total financial requirements due to their scale and exposure.

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The funding is essential for strategic investments across key sectors such as sustainable agriculture, robust water resource management, clean energy transitions, resilient urban development, and ecosystem restoration to safeguard the region's role as a crucial freshwater provider and biodiversity hotspot supporting billions downstream.

Smaller nations in the region, including Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan, encounter disproportionately severe financing gaps relative to their economies, exacerbating vulnerabilities and underscoring the urgent need for enhanced international support, innovative financing mechanisms, and strengthened regional cooperation to bridge these disparities.

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