Bangkok:Nepal has proposed three initiatives focused on disaster preparedness at the ongoing ‘Fifth Ministerial Conference on Space Applications for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific’ in Thailand.
According to National News Agency RSS, the proposals were presented by Nepal’s Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha. He advocated for Asia Pacific level cooperation in space monitoring of climate hazards during the conference organized by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok.
Minister Shrestha emphasized the importance of regional cooperation using space technology to combat the increasing disasters caused by climate change. He highlighted three priorities sustaining high-mountain hazards as a regional focus, translating data into practical guidance, and ensuring equitable access to space-based information. He stressed the need for systematic satellite monitoring and trained professionals to support timely decision-making.
Shrestha also shared Nepal’s recent experiences, including the dissemination of nearly 680,000 text warnings along the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river corridor and around 200,000 more in October. He noted the identification of 47 potentially dangerous glacial lakes in Himalayan river basins, with Nepal already working to mitigate risks in four of the most dangerous lakes.
The Minister underscored the necessity of continuous satellite observation and the use of artificial intelligence and digital simulations to assess hazards. He pointed out that while satellites can detect danger in the mountains, timely warnings are crucial to save lives downstream. The river systems of the Hindu Kush Himalaya, supporting nearly two billion people, require shared regional responsibility for protection.
Minister Shrestha will further address an event at the Asian Institute of Technology and is scheduled to return home on Saturday.