PHUNGLING, MAY 19 Stakeholders have highlighted the growing vulnerability of Nepal's Himalayan region to climate change impacts, including erratic rainfall, glacier melt, landslides and declining agricultural productivity, at a climate change forum held in Phungling Municipality. The 'Climate Change Forum 2083' was organized by the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) through its Nepal Climate Change Knowledge Management Centre (NCCKMC) in coordination with Phungling Municipality. The event brought together local representatives, government officials, researchers and sectoral experts to discuss climate risks and adaptation strategies in Koshi Province. Phungling Municipality Mayor Amir Maden chaired the opening session, while Chief District Officer Shivraj Sedhai attended as special guest. Speakers noted that districts like Taplejung are increasingly experiencing the visible impacts of climate change, affecting livelihoods, agriculture and infrastructure. Speaking at the programme, Dr. Bimala Devi Devkota, Chief Scientific Officer at NAST, said climate-induced disasters such as erratic rainfall, glacier melt, floods, landslides and declining agricultural output are rising globally. She stressed the need to integrate climate considerations into local planning and budgeting, along with stronger coordination between scientific research and policymaking. Chief District Officer Sedhai said incidents of floods, landslides, soil erosion and irregular rainfall have increased in Taplejung in recent years, urging expansion of science-based awareness and adaptation programmes in remote Himalayan areas. During the technical session, Assistant Research Fellow Pashupati Adhikari warned that global temperatures are rising rapidly, while Nepal remains highly vulnerable despite its low emissions. He highlighted accelerating glacier retreat, spread of diseases and declining crop yields as emerging concerns. Forest Officer Lalit Kumar Yadav presented findings on climate impacts on forests and biodiversity, noting that community forests in Taplejung are promoting adaptation measures 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 weather patterns, alongside increased outbreaks of pests and diseases. She called for scaling up climate-smart agriculture, drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, community seed banks and weather-based advisory services. In the panel discussion, participants raised concerns over shifting weather patterns, emergence of new plant species and recent flooding in the Hewa Khola area. Experts noted that rising temperatures are altering species distribution, while intense rainfall events are increasing flood risks in mountain regions. Concluding the event, Mayor Maden said farmers in the district are increasingly facing new crop diseases and pest infestations. He stressed the need for expanded scientific research at the local level, including deployment of climate scientists in every district, and called for stronger coordination among stakeholders to address the growing climate crisis.