Today, as we mark World Earth Day 2025, I find myself reflecting not just on the urgent challenges we face, but also on the immense power we each hold to shape a better future.

The theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” speaks straight to my heart. This is because the future of our Earth doesn’t rest only with world leaders in conference halls or decisions taken at the top. It also lives in our everyday choices, our collective courage, and our local actions. And that’s exactly what drives us here at ICIMOD – working together to protect the fragile yet vital Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), our shared mountain home.

This region is stunning. Sacred. Life-giving. But it’s also under immense pressure.

A region on the edge

Climate change is no longer a distant threat here – it’s a lived reality. The HKH is warming faster than the global average. Even if we manage to limit global warming to the Paris Agreement goal of 1.5°C, we could still lose a third of our glaciers by 2100. And if emissions keep climbing? That loss could reach two-thirds, putting over 2 billion lives in the mountains and downstream at risk of floods, droughts, and water insecurity.

Meanwhile, air pollution continues to choke our cities and villages. PM2.5 levels in many areas regularly exceed WHO air quality guidelines; in April this year, levels were up to 77 times the safe levels in some areas. This harms our health and affects the environment. Along with warming from greenhouse gases, air pollution, such as black carbon and dust, traps excess heat causing the climate to warm, and accelerates the melting of glaciers. And because air doesn’t stop at borders, this is a challenge we can only solve together, across countries and communities.

Then there’s biodiversity loss – a quieter crisis, but just as devastating. The HKH is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, home to tigers, red pandas, snow leopards, and thousands of unique species. But habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, and climate change are putting this incredible natural heritage on the brink.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But there’s also hope – and we see it every day.

Turning the tide with clean energy

Hope is rising with the sun – literally. Renewable energy is not just an alternative, it’s a powerful, practical solution – now an imperative. By investing in solar, wind, hydro, and clean cooking technologies, we can reduce emissions, clean our air, and build more resilient communities.

At ICIMOD, we’re seeing this in action. From solar microgrids in remote villages to solar-powered irrigation and cold storage, we’re helping mountain communities shift away from polluting fuels. We’re showing that even in tough terrains, decarbonisation is not just possible, it’s happening.

And yes, renewables can replace polluting energy sources across the HKH. But it takes smart, inclusive strategies:

Hydropower, already key in Bhutan and Nepal, remains a huge asset.

Decentralised solar offers off-grid solutions where traditional infrastructure falls short, especially in remote mountain areas.

Electric mobility can help us phase out diesel.

Clean cooking options like biogas and electric stoves are ready to scale – with the right support.

But it’s not just about tech. We also need investment, behavioural change, subsidies, and stronger energy systems – especially in rural and mountainous areas.

Science shows us the way

Recent scientific recommendations are clear. To curb air pollution, we must:

Upgrade polluting industries – like replacing old brick kilns with zig-zag technology.

Stop open burning and promote better crop residue management.

Replace biomass and fossil fuels in homes.

Expand electric mobility and make public transport attractive and accessible.

Create strong transboundary monitoring systems – because pollution doesn’t recognise political borders.

Align climate and air quality goals in policy.

Integrate clean air into urban planning.

And build national institutions that coordinate air pollution policies across sectors and countries.

A moment of global momentum

The HKH has enormous untapped clean energy potential – over 3,500 GW. And while countries like Bhutan and Nepal lead the way with nearly 100% of their electricity coming from renewables, many other areas still rely heavily on biomass and fossil fuels. The opportunity is there. We just need to seize it.

Globally, things are moving. At COP28, nearly 200 nations pledged to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030. This momentum continued into COP29 with bold new initiatives on green hydrogen, clean energy corridors, and climate finance – tools that can support the HKH if we make sure no mountain is left behind.

ICIMOD’s role

At ICIMOD, we are all in. 

We’re working with governments to embed clean energy in development plans and to adopt an airshed approach to tackle transboundary air pollution.

We’re building the technical capacity of local institutions and demonstrating the use of solar power for pick up and upscaling.

We’re promoting knowledge platforms like the Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) tool to guide decision-making.

And we’re pushing for climate finance that truly reaches the people and places that need it most.

This Earth Day, let’s make it personal

So what can you do?

Whether you’re a policymaker shaping clean air legislation, a farmer choosing solar irrigation, a student raising awareness, or a parent switching to electric cooking – you are part of the solution.

Let’s scale what works. Let’s build bridges across borders. Let’s bring the science to the streets, the mountains, and the markets.

Because in the end, our power is our planet’s future.

Together, we can protect this incredible region. Not just for us, but for the generations yet to come.

Happy Earth Day 2025.

Let’s rise to the challenge – for people, for nature, for climate.

Sincerely,
Pema Gyamtsho,
Director General,
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.