Nepal’s Himalayan Climate Call

When we think of the terms “climate change” or “global warming”, the image of melting glaciers is often the poster image that comes to mind. Nepal, home to a significant portion of the Himalayas, understands the urgency and consequences of glacial melt better than most nations. With Mount Everest’s southern face within its borders, leading the charge on climate action is both inevitable and necessary for Nepal. The variable weather caused by climate change was blamed as one of the main reasons for the the deaths of several people during Everest expeditions last year.

It is welcome news that Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has decided to resume the flagship Sagarmatha Sambad, globally known as the Everest Dialogue, which was envisioned when Oli was Prime Minister in 2019, to provide a crucial stage to discuss issues like climate change that is speeding towards catastrophe. The event that was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic will now be held in Kathmandu from 16 to 18 May with stakeholders from inter-governmental organizations, private sector, civil society, think tanks, academia, and the media. I am very much looking forward to join.