Kathmandu: The International Relations and Global Diplomacy Dialogue (IRGDD), in collaboration with the Government of Nepal, organized a Pre-Sagarmatha Dialogue on Monday to highlight the impact of climate change on the Himalayas and humanity.
The government of Nepal is set to host the Sagarmatha Dialogue from mid-May.
Various speakers from the climate and other sectors presented their views during the event. The speakers included Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Director General of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), which works on behalf of the people of the Hindu Kush Himalayas, Dr Popular Gentle, former climate advisor to the Prime Minister, Madhu Marasani, former Finance Secretary, Dawa Tashi Sherpa, a mountaineer who has climbed the world’s highest peak Everest, Chandi Raj Dhakal, former president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry and vice president of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Dr Biraj Singh Thapa, assistant professor and team leader at the Green Hydrogen Lab.
State Minister for Forests and Environment, Rupa BK, who was the chief guest of the event, said that the Sagarmatha Dialogue is not only targeted at nature but also at communities that emit low levels of carbon. “Nepal is among the most climate-vulnerable countries, and the government is working to address that,” she said.
IRGDD President and former Ambassador Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal expressed pride in hosting the Pre-Sagarmatha Dialogue to emphasize the crucial connection between the Himalayas and humanity. “Today’s discussion has once again emphasized an undeniable truth: the climate crisis is a Himalayan crisis. And there must be global discourse centering the Himalayas in climate discussions,” she said. She also announced that the IRGDD would hold three more dialogue sessions as part of the Pre-Sagarmatha series.
Dr Gyamtsho of ICIMOD remarked that, as people of the Himalayas, it’s time to give back to nature. He advised that the Sagarmatha Dialogue should focus on what we can give to nature. “Black carbon is covering the snow. The mountains will continue to suffer for a few more years,” he said, emphasizing the need to focus on carbon finance and highlighting that climate change has no borders.
Mountaineer Dawa Tashi Sherpa, who has summited Mount Everest, mentioned that it’s not due to population pressure but the search for a luxury lifestyle in the Himalayas that has led to snow melting. “Protecting the mountains requires everyone’s effort. Local communities alone cannot safeguard the Himalayas,” he said, sharing his mountaineering experiences during the event.
Chandi Raj Dhakal noted that the IRGDD’s Pre-Sagarmatha Dialogue would support the Government of Nepal’s upcoming Sagarmatha Dialogue. “Our institution (SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry) is also ready to work with IRGDD,” he said.
Dr Thapa, assistant professor and team leader at the Green Hydrogen Lab, pointed out that Nepal spends NPR 400 billion annually on fuel imports. While the country’s resources could help Nepal and neighboring countries reduce fuel dependency. He mentioned that cement factories that are run on fossil fuels could be operated with hydrogen instead. “The government must bring policies to enable such changes. The lack of policy should not be an excuse. Necessary policies must be introduced,” he said.
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