KATHMANDU, MARCH 21
A media workshop aimed at fostering dialogue between the scientific community and the media was held in Kathmandu, emphasizing the crucial connections between the cryosphere, water resources, and climate change impacts.
Organized in collaboration with Media Action Nepal, UNESCO, ICIMOD, WaterAid, Small Earth Nepal, KIRDARC, and Kathmandu University, the workshop coincided with the International Year of Glacier Preservation 2025. It was part of a week-long series of programs in Nepal designed to raise global awareness about the vital role of glaciers and their impact on the climate system.
The one-day workshop, titled "Connecting Science and Society: Communicating Cryosphere, Water Resources, and Climate Impacts," brought together experts from various organizations and journalists from diverse media houses. Given the media's pivotal role in bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and public discourse, organizers stressed the importance of involving journalists in scientific discussions. This would help facilitate the dissemination of complex scientific knowledge on climate change, glacier dynamics, environmental concerns, and water conservation to the general public in an accessible manner.
The event featured renowned experts, including glaciologist Dr. Rijan Bhakta Kayastha, Professor of Glaciology at Kathmandu University; Dr. Mohan P. Chand, Assistant Professor at Kathmandu University and CSN; and Sharad P. Joshi from ICIMOD. Preeti Mittal from WaterAid also contributed to the discussion.
The workshop covered various critical topics, including an understanding of the cryosphere, cryospheric science terminology, climate change impacts on glaciers, and cryosphere-related activities in Nepal and the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. Additionally, knowledge-sharing sessions and discussions on the way forward were conducted.
Dr. Kayastha provided insights into the status of glaciers in Nepal, lamenting the lack of recent and up-to-date data. He cited past studies indicating that Nepal had 3,252 glaciers in 2001, which increased to 3,808 in 2010. Similarly, there were 2,323 glacial lakes in 2001, 1,466 in 2010, and 2,070 in 2015, according to ICIMOD and UNDP data. He highlighted that the changing numbers are due to glacier melting, thawing, division, and merging processes.
He also warned about the presence of 47 potentially dangerous glacial lakes in Nepal's major river basins-42 in the Koshi, three in the Gandaki, and two in the Karnali. Additionally, from 1977 to 2010, Nepal lost 24% of its glacier area and 29% of its ice reserves, posing serious concerns for water resources and livelihoods.
Dr. Chand explained that the cryosphere encompasses all forms of Earth's ice, including snow, glaciers, sea ice, frozen ground, and atmospheric ice. He noted that 10% of the Earth's land is covered by glaciers or ice sheets, and due to climate change, glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Nepal has recorded 54 GLOFs, resulting in 36 fatalities and the displacement of 1,050 people, he added.
During the workshop, Sijal Pokharel, Project Officer at UNESCO, emphasized the role of the media in enhancing resilience in vulnerable communities through evidence-based reporting. "Enhancing resilience in vulnerable communities and ecosystems requires well-informed media and evidence-based reporting, offering reliable information and platforms for informed decision-making. Strengthening collaboration among the media, scientists, academia, and local and Indigenous communities is crucial to bridging the gap between knowledge and its societal impact amid a changing climate," Pokharel said.
Similarly, Preeti Mittal from WaterAid highlighted the urgent need for water conservation. "Water is the source of life but it is in crisis. Climate change is accelerating the melting of glaciers threatening our water sources, communities, and ecosystems. Let's amplify the voices that matter and protect our planet's most precious resource," she said.
Laxman Datt Pant, founder of Media Action Nepal and a faculty member at Tbilisi State University, Georgia, discussed climate journalism and the challenges posed by fake news, misinformation, and disinformation in climate change reporting.
Participants expressed concerns over the lack of adequate data on glaciers, water resources, and climate change impacts in Nepal. Additionally, they noted that complex scientific terminologies make climate change reporting challenging for journalists, particularly in translating scientific findings into simple, comprehensible language for the general public.
The workshop was organized as part of the Nepal National Glaciers, Water, and Weather Week (NNGWWW)-an annual national-level event uniting stakeholders in Nepal's water sector. The event commemorates World Day of Glaciers on March 21, World Water Day on March 22, and World Meteorological Day on March 23.
This year marks the first-ever celebration of the World Day for Glaciers, emphasizing the need for urgent action to protect the world's glaciers amid escalating climate change threats.
