On 21 February 2025, the Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS) hosted an insightful Future Himalayan Research Seminar titled “Thinking Climate as Clime: Aquatic Land, Anthropocenic Water, and Multispecies Assemblies” presented by Professor Jelle J.P. Wouters, Director of Research and Development, Royal Thimphu College, Bhutan at SIAS. Ms. Gyanu Maskey, Researcher at SIAS, facilitated the seminar with a brief introduction of the presenter.
Prof. Wouters began his presentation by introducing the concept of Clime studies, which emphasize the local’s understanding of where the climate change occurs, how they broaden the knowledge and diversify the climate patterns. To further elaborate, it fosters deeper and diverse climate knowledge by integrating technical insights with past human experiences at the ground level. It is in contrary to another concept that Prof. Wouters explained, i.e. Climate science, which only relies on methodological models and numbering science.
Prof. Wouters further explored the concept of “Old Himalayas” versus the “New Himalayas.” In the past, the Bhutanese believed that the Himalayas and the indigenous Earth were the makers and changers of climate and were seen as sacred embodiment of gods for local communities. In contrast, the New Himalayas, formed during the Cenozoic Era, are now anthropogenically impacted, fragmented and disrupted due to human-induced climate and global influences.
Water, the once considered sacred element, unfortunately in today’s context, has been misused and manipulated into a transboundary means causing political and anthropogenic pressures, as well as other issues like pollution and diversion. Historically, the Himalayas cultivated vital ecosystems and sustained the habitability of places, aligning to the fact among the local shamans and communities that deities have been acting as an environmental activist for its preservation. However, now, the humans interfere with the cosmic order and disrupt it with their actions. In the same manner, the current shift in the epistemological perspectives have differed and requires the integration of both religious and ecological dimensions. Prof. Wouters argued that climate change should not be considered as an independent domain, further portraying that it has now become a new venture for profit-making and capitalism.
The seminar concluded with an insightful discussion where both participants and the presenter emphasized the importance of Clime Studies and the evolvement of the New Himalayas and adjusting it in present as well as future research and development interventions, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary approaches for a holistic understanding of climate impacts and change.
