Strengthening climate resilience from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal
OPRI-SPF and ICIMOD sign Joint Statement of Understanding
launching Glacier to Ocean project
On the left is Dr. Atsushi Sunami, President of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF), on the right Dr. Pema Gyamtsho, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
Kathmandu, Nepal / Tokyo, Japan – The Ocean Policy Research Institute of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (OPRI-SPF) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) have signed a Joint Statement of Understanding launching the Glacier to Ocean project, a transformative initiative connecting the Himalaya and the Bay of Bengal through integrated climate action.
Often referred to as the “Third Pole,” the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) holds the world’s largest volume of ice outside the polar regions. Its glaciers feed major rivers that sustain some 270 million people in the hills and mountains and 1.65 billion people in the basins downstream. However, the region faces accelerated glacial melt, erratic rainfall, and rising flood and drought risks, which cascades to lowland areas and the ocean.
By linking mountain and marine ecosystems, the Glacier to Ocean project addresses climate impacts across the entire source-to-sea continuum, a rare but critical approach in climate adaptation and sustainability planning.
The cross-regional partnership between ICIMOD and OPRI-SPF aims to address shared environmental challenges—from glacial retreat in the HKH to biodiversity loss and marine pollution in the Bay of Bengal—to strengthen resilience across the Ganges Basin.
Develop and strengthen early warning systems for glacial hazards and climate risks in the Ganges Basin, with a focus on upstream-downstream linkages
Promote community-based, gender-responsive adaptation strategies across river basins
Apply eDNA technologies to assess and monitor marine biodiversity in the Bay of Bengal, which is expected to change due to climate change
Raise awareness and support policy engagement on heavy metal and plastic pollution and its relevance to watershed environments
Generate knowledge across the Ganges Basin to support evidence-based regional policies for climate adaptation, sustainable water management, and resilience – from the glaciers to the ocean.
About International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
The Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region stretches 3,500km across Asia, spanning eight countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. Encompassing high-altitude mountain ranges, mid-hills, and plains, the zone is vital for the food, water, and energy security of up to two billion people and is a habitat for countless irreplaceable species. It is also acutely fragile, and vulnerable to the impacts of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), based in Kathmandu, Nepal, is an international organisation established in 1983, that is working to make this critical region greener, more inclusive and climate resilient. For more information, read our Strategy 2030 and explore our website.
