Resilient Mountain Solutions: Ten local solutions for global impact

There have been considerable growth in awareness of Geographic Information System (GIS) in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region, and there are initiatives underway for developing regional Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs). Such infrastructures are being advocated to fulfill the gaps in data standards, data sharing protocols and software platform so that resources can be saved from duplications and societies can benefit from easy access to data. These initiatives include sharing of data such as basic geographic map, socio-economic data, environmental or disaster related data etc. These activities advance scientific discovery and help decision makers to tackle problems caused by global climate change, promote regional sustainable development and better the lives of people living in this region. However, harmonizing data at various levels and across different disciplines is challenging as these data platforms are usually heterogeneous and lack inter-connection. Activities of cross-border data sharing is not well implemented, its sharing practice requires unique technical standards and specific software platforms. China has growing interests to participate in data sharing activities in HKH region, an initiative was set up to conduct pilot researches to promote HKH region data sharing. One of the components of this initiative is to build a HKH region data sharing network (platform) in close collaboration with International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and other related agencies in the region. This paper mainly focuses on the technical aspect, study on the technical standards and software platform selection in the process of building the network. It reviews relating data sharing network across the world and in HKH region. The study believes that the emergence and maturity of open source software and service models reduced the difficulty in constructing platform for data sharing. Open source software is open, flexible, and low cost and supports a number of technical standards; it provides tools and methods for jointly building cross-border and inter-agency data sharing network. Therefore, in terms of technical standards and platform architecture, GeoNetwork Open source is applicable for data sharing in HKH region. This paper discusses the framework, technologies, core function of the network, and then reviews key points in platform customizing and developing based on GeoNetwork. The work provides a common framework for regional data sharing and exchange.

In recent decades, due to rapid economic development and urbanization in China, there has been rapid and far-reaching socioeconomic change in mountain areas such as Yunnan Province. Yunnan has also historically been affected by climate-related natural disasters. The droughts of 2009-2012 are a recent example. However, comprehensive data is needed on the effect of such issues on local livelihoods with regard to their vulnerability to change and how corresponding behavioural shifts may mitigate or exacerbate the impact of these changes. A comprehensive research program at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) dubbed 'Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP)' has researched such topics in four countries within the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. For Yunnan province of China, the Centre for Mountain Ecosystem Studies (CMES), jointly with the HICAP team of ICIMOD, interviewed 1950 households, who comprised a representative sample of the population of five prefectures of Yunnan Province. This quantitative survey used the Poverty and Vulnerability Assessment (PVA): a research tool previously developed by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) (Gerlitz et al., 2014). The survey explored the vulnerability of the livelihoods of mountain communities to climatic and socioeconomic changes, as well as their adaptive capacity. The survey results are a perception-based response of the households that were interviewed and provide an overview of their impressions about issues including climate change, their vulnerabilities and finally their capacity to respond to change. The research demonstrated that people in the surveyed areas are already vulnerable to marginalization and climate change. Their dependency ratio and illiteracy rates are very high, and migrant workers are paid low wages. They also have little or no chance of participating in or influencing the formulation or implementation of government policies. Most households use hybrid seeds, and there has been a shift away from traditional staple crops to cash crops. The root causes of the vulnerability to changes in these communities, are not only environmental problems, but also include their social structure, institutional arrangements, lack of equity and community interactions.

Understanding the effects of climate change on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is critical, especially in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, which is experiencing a rate of warming nearly triple the global average. Despite the region’s importance in supporting major ecosystems and a vast population, the impacts of climate change on specific SDGs and their interconnections remain underexplored. This viewpoint article discusses the influence of climate change on the interplay among various SDGs, with a particular emphasis on SDG 6, SDG 7, and SDG 15. By offering insights into these challenges, this article aims to aid in the formulation and achievement of more effective strategies for meeting the SDGs in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region.

Human habitat, human society and science today stands in the midst of a deep crevice of scientific ingenuity and deep scientific regeneration. Medical science and the science of psychiatry in the similar vein stands tall and affirmative as man and mankind traverses the weary path of United Nations and World Sustainable Development Goals. The science of psychology and psychiatry needs to be truly re- envisioned and revamped with the passage of global engineering history and time. The author is suffering from schizophrenia since November,1993. From October, 2012 he was diagnosed with glaucoma in his right eye. The author in this article deeply elucidates with scientific profundity and insight the course of his years of illness and slow recovery. Today he is beset with one health issue over another. Provision of advanced healthcare is one of the pillars of World Sustainable Development Goals. A deep introspection and a comprehensive review on the science of schizophrenia are the utmost needs of the hour. The author deeply reviews the veritable needs and necessities of advanced healthcare in the diagnosis of the treatment of schizophrenia. Surely and remarkably a newer epoch in the field of neuropsychiatry will emerge if scientists, researchers and policy makers across the globe takes concerted efforts in dealing with the proper application of United Nations and World Sustainable Development Goals. Advanced healthcare is the need of the hour. The author deeply stresses the needs of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the futuristic pathway of science and technology.

The World Health Organization recognizes that physical activity (PA) during childhood is crucial for healthy development, aligning well with the achievement of several United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study aimed to explore the associations between 10 key indicators of PA for children and adolescents assessed in the Global Matrix 4.0 project, and the UN SDGs. Data from 57 countries/jurisdictions of the Global Matrix 4.0 project were used. The UN SDG indicators were sourced from the SDG Transformation Center, which publishes each country's performance on each of the 17 SDGs. Given the robust evidence supporting plausible links between PA and SDGs 3 (good health and well-being), 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action), and 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions), these SDGs were investigated. Countries/jurisdictions with good and moderate performance in achieving SDG 3, SDG 9, SDG 11, and SDG 16 had higher grades than countries/jurisdictions with fair performance in achieving these SDGs for the following indicators: Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies. However, countries/jurisdictions with good performance in achieving SDG 13 had lower grades than countries/jurisdictions with fair performance in achieving SDG 13 for the following indicators: Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies. Organized Sports and PA, Community and Environment, and Government Investments and Strategies were the indicators that demonstrated differences between countries/jurisdictions with good and poor performance in achieving the SDGs.

Himalayan glaciers are a significant contributor to the global supply of snowmelt water and serve as the primary source for major rivers in South Asia. In this study, we have evaluated the effect of aerosol species on glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region and identified the glaciers most affected, as well as the relative and cumulative impact of different aerosol species, including black carbon (BC). We estimate the surface concentration of organic carbon (OC), sulfate (Sul), and dust aerosols in the HKH region. We also measured the concentration of these aerosol species in the snow of nine glaciers and investigated their influence on annual glacier runoff. Furthermore, we identified the source regions and sectors that are responsible for aerosol loading in the region. In this study, we combined free-running (freesimu) and constrained (constrsimu) aerosol simulations with an atmospheric general circulation model, an aerosol-snow radiative interaction model, and a novel hypsometric glacier energy mass balance model. The freesimu estimates of aerosol species concentrations were more accurate at high-altitude (HA) stations than at low-altitude (LA) stations. However, the constrsimu estimates performed significantly better at LA stations. A hotspot location of high concentration of aerosol species was identified near Manora Peak, located almost at a central location in the HKH region. Although the concentration of other aerosol species was 2 to 5 times higher than BC (< 70 μg kg-1), they caused significantly less reduction in snow albedo than BC over the HKH glaciers. The cumulative snow albedo reduction (SAR) due to all aerosol species, including BC, was estimated to be as much as 7 to 8% over the Gangotri and Chorabari glaciers, with Gangotri being one of the most important glaciers responsible for the formation of the Ganges River. The Pindari glacier was found to have the highest annual runoff increase (ARI) of all glaciers studied despite having a lower aerosol-induced SAR than the Gangotri and Chorabari glaciers. Five of the nine glaciers (Pindari, Sankalpa, Milam, Gangotri, and Chorabari) had ARI higher than 300 mm w.e. y-1 due to aerosol-induced SAR. Glaciers located in the HKH region were found to be two to three times more sensitive to SAR than cold Tibetan glaciers. This, combined with the recent increase in temperature due to global warming, paints a worrying picture for the future. Analysis of the fractional contribution of aerosol species revealed that BC aerosols, although having a less than 15% contribution to the total aerosol loading, contribute 55 to 70% of total aerosol-induced ARI, followed by dust (20 to 30\%), Sul and OC aerosols respectively. Analysis of region- and source-tagged simulation data revealed that the main sources of OC and Sul aerosols south of 30°N were biomass burning and open burning (for OC), and fossil fuel burning (for Sul) from the nearby Indo-Gangetic plain. For regions located north of 30°N and for dust aerosols, the main contributor was identified as long-range intercontinental transport from far-off regions of Africa and West Asia.

Climate and land use changes shift the distribution and dispersal of two umbrella species in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region

Thirty years ago, 8 countries of the Hindu Kush–Himalayan region (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan) realized the importance of mountains and established the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). With an 8-country charter, ICIMOD serves as a regional intergovernmental center for cooperation on the sustainable development of the Hindu Kush–Himalayan region. ICIMOD believes in a future in which the region's mountain people can experience enhanced livelihoods, equity, and social and environmental security; in which they can adapt to environmental, socioeconomic, and climate change; and in which generations of mountain and downstream populations can enjoy the benefits and opportunities afforded by the region's natural endowment. ICIMOD foresees a future in which the role of the region, as the water tower for more than a billion people, a cultural and spiritual hub, the home of global biodiversity hotspots, a significant ecological buffer zone, and a source of resources and services for mountain and lowland people, is upheld, valued, and recognized globally and regionally.

Countries in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) have made advances in socioeconomic development in recent years, but the challenge remains to ensure food and nutrition security, end hunger and poverty, and provide access to safe water and clean energy to a burgeoning population. Leaders in the region have committed to inclusive growth and climate resilient development as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030. Achieving these goals requires a multifaceted approach including integrated solutions; efficient and sustainable use of land, water, energy and ecosystems; strengthening upstream-downstream linkages; and increased regional and subregional coordination and connectivity. In response to these concerns, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) with the Government of India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) and the Institute of Economic Growth (IEG) conducted a “Knowledge Forum on Climate Resilient Development in the Himalayan and Downstream Regions” on 16–17 June 2016 in New Delhi, India. As a multisector platform, the event brought practitioners, senior government officials, policy makers, experts, researchers and development workers together to deliberate on issues common to the HKH. Participants from Himalayan and downstream countries, including Bangladesh, China, India and Nepal discussed ideas and solutions to ensure food, water and energy security and how to promote climate resilient development. Through six themes, the conference delved into challenges, opportunities and integrated solutions linking science and policy for inclusive growth and climate resilient development.

Climate change may plunder the facultative top predator Yellow-throated Martin from the Hindu-Kush Himalayan Region

PurposeThis paper introduces a special section devoted to accounting scholarship that addresses the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has three purposes. First, to explore the puzzle of a relative absence of accounting-related scholarship that addresses the SDGs. Second, the papers within the special section are introduced and located within streams of existing research and practice. Third, the paper then suggests framings, approaches and/or conditions under which the authors might see more accounting scholarship in support of advancing the SDGs.Design/methodology/approachA structured review of publication patterns in accounting journals over the last five years is undertaken to explore the nature and extent of SDGs-related accounting research. These patterns and foundational accounting literature are used to shape a series of observations and propositions underlying the line of argument developed in the paper.FindingsDespite the SDGs' prominence in the policy world, and the widespread embrace of their utility for shaping understandings of organizational responsibilities, accounting scholars have been slow to engage in SDGs-motivated research. This gap creates two issues. First, accounting scholarship is less available to the web of knowledge that is being developed about how to enact the ambitions of the SDGs. Second, accounting scholarship is not developing in a way that incorporates SDGs-related challenges facing organizations. This paper suggests ways in which accounting scholarship can overcome these limitations.Originality/valueAccounting research on the SDGs is in an early stage of development, despite almost five years having elapsed since their formal adoption. This paper highlights avenues for accounting scholars' engagement with the SDGs’ agenda.

The special issue on Managing Artificial Intelligence for Accelerating the Implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, positioning it within the urgent global context of advancing the 2030 Agenda. The special issue is closely aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by examining how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can act as a catalyst for comprehensive, sustainable, and data-driven development across critical areas such as poverty reduction, healthcare, education, climate action, and sustainable cities. In the current scenario, which is marked by rapid digital transformation, increasing global inequalities, and escalating environmental challenges, AI presents both unprecedented opportunities and complex ethical considerations. This issue addresses these dynamics by emphasising responsible AI governance, equitable access, and the integration of technological innovation with human-centred development principles. A distinctive feature of this special issue lies in the diversity of its contributions, bringing together interdisciplinary research, policy analyses, and applied case studies from academics, practitioners, and policymakers across different regions and sectors. The collection reflects a balance between theoretical insights and real-world applications, including contributions from both conference presentations and open-call submissions. The uniqueness of this issue is further demonstrated through its comprehensive thematic coverage-spanning governance, business transformation, and environmental sustainability while maintaining a strong focus on actionable outcomes and global collaboration. By bridging gaps between research, policy, and practice, this special issue offers timely and relevant insights for accelerating SDG implementation in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Sustainable Development Goals; Digital Transformation; Technological Innovation; Human-Centred Development; Ethical Considerations. Citation: Ahmed, A. and Naim, A. (2026): Managing Artificial Intelligence for Accelerating the Implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development (WJSTSD), Vol. 21, Nos. 1/2/3, pp. 1-10. WASD: London, United Kingdom.

The European Union (EU) is committed to tackling the issue of climate change, which poses serious risks to the global environment and human well-being. Supporting renewable energy is a key policy direction for the EU to lower its contributions to climate change. However, renewable energy technologies have diverse effects on the environment and on society. These effects can be considered a complex system of interacting elements and are challenging to assess. Conceptual models are a way of synthesizing this information to obtain an overview of the system and essential insights. We present the results of an activity to assess the impacts of EU renewable energy policies on overseas biodiversity and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was carried out as part of the EKLIPSE (EKLIPSE (Establishing a European Knowledge and Learning Mechanism to Improve the Policy-Science-Society Interface on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) mechanism to synthesise environmental knowledge in response to specific requests by decision-makers at the European level. We carried out a participatory process to collate expert knowledge into a conceptual model using a Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping Approach (Özesmi and Özesmi 2004), with the Mental Modeler software for mapping (Gray et al. 2013). The participants were guided to connect significant EU policies associated with renewable energy, the technologies they support, and known impacts of these technologies on biodiversity and the SDGs, drawing on a preliminary review of the literature. The individual models obtained were integrated into a single model (see Suppl. material 1 for images). This was then subject to network analysis, which reveals the collective effects of different renewable energy technologies (RETs) on the wider socioecological system. Our findings highlight that RETs have complex and at times disparate effects on biodiversity and the SDGs, acting through a variety of mediating processes. They benefit the SDGs on balance, particularly climate-related SDGs. Mitigation of biodiversity impacts remains a concern, and processes such as habitat change were found to be influential here. Our results suggest that policymakers must focus on implementing appropriate environmental impact assessments, guided by these mediating processes. This would minimize any negative environmental impacts of RETs, while maximizing the benefits.

The Support to Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalaya (Himalica) initiative aims to support poor and vulnerable mountain communities in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts through collaborative action research and pilot activities. Research and pilot activities are expected to help build the capacities of institutions working on building and strengthening resilience to climateinduced vulnerability which will subsequently improve the livelihoods of mountain communities in the HKH. Adaptive capacity can be attained when the significance and value system of the services mountain ecosystems provide local communities and those living downstream are understood, maintained, and recognized. Visualizing such impacts, the Himalica initiative is implemented through five main activity areas: i) building capacity to formulate adapted policy, ii) expanding knowledge management, iii) strengthening collaborative action research, iv) piloting activities for climate change adaptation, and v) building overall capacity. After the completion of Ecosystem Services Assessments (ESAs) in Bhutan, Myanmar and Nepal in 2014 and 2015 as a part of strengthening collaborative action research, the ecosystem theme at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) further initiated assessments of ecosystem services in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

This article calls for the need for integration of physical literacy into Physical Education (PE) curricula in Africa to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), and climate action (SDG 13). Traditional PE often emphasizes competitive sports and physical benchmarks, overlooking inclusive, ecological, and lifelong development. Physical literacy defined by motivation, confidence, competence, and knowledge for lifelong physical activity offers a transformative approach to align PE with sustainability goals. The proposed framework promotes active lifestyles, inclusive teaching practices, and environmental stewardship through curriculum redesign, teacher training, outdoor learning, community engagement, and multidimensional assessments. Despite challenges such as limited resources, lack of teacher preparedness, and definitional ambiguity, opportunities exist through technology, cultural relevance, and alignment with global Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) goals. By embedding physical literacy, PE can become a vehicle for nurturing health-conscious, environmentally aware, and socially responsible individuals. This article reimagines PE as a critical tool for addressing modern health, education, and environmental challenges, advocating for systemic reforms that position physical literacy at the core of sustainable development strategies. The urgency of this transformation underscores the need for equity, inclusivity, and intersectoral collaboration in educational practice.