Climate Awards for Women Safeguarding Glaciers
ISLAMABAD: Two women from Pakistan’s northern mountain regions will be recognised for their contributions to climate resilience and environmental protection under a new international award programme.
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Mountain and Glacier Protection Organisation have announced the Mountain Women Climate Award 2026 to highlight leadership in ecological restoration, sustainable livelihoods and climate adaptation in glacier-dependent regions.
The award will honour women from Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who are engaged in efforts to strengthen environmental resilience in some of the world’s most climate-sensitive mountain ecosystems.
Pakistan’s northern mountain belt, particularly Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, hosts one of the largest concentrations of glaciers outside the polar regions. These high-altitude landscapes, home to peaks exceeding 7,000 metres, are increasingly threatened by glacial retreat, biodiversity loss, deforestation, erratic rainfall patterns and soil degradation.
Within these fragile ecosystems, women play a critical but often under-recognised role as ecological custodians. As farmers, water managers, forest protectors and carriers of indigenous knowledge, they contribute significantly to climate resilience and community sustainability.
Their work in restoring degraded landscapes, preserving traditional practices and promoting climate-aware communities is considered vital for both environmental protection and local livelihoods.Under the initiative, two winners will receive Rs500,000 each.
Applications and nominations are open until the end of May.Organisers said the award aims to promote gender equality and inclusivity by recognising initiatives that engage women and youth in strengthening the adaptive capacity of vulnerable mountain communities.
Eligible candidates must be women based in Gilgit-Baltistan or Chitral with at least three years of consistent engagement in climate or environmental work demonstrating measurable community impact.Selections will be based on impact, innovation, adaptability, scalability and the level of community participation in planning and implementation.
Award recipients will also be required to submit a roadmap outlining the use of prize money and provide periodic progress updates on their initiatives.Nominations will be accepted across five categories including water efficiency and conservation, agriculture and food security, ecosystem restoration, green enterprise and innovation, and climate journalism and research.
