Preparations for the upcoming ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’ have been expedited. The multi-stakeholder dialogue forum, set to take place from May 16-18, will focus on the theme ‘Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity’. The event aims to address global, regional, and national issues related to climate change, with special emphasis on the impacts faced by mountainous and coastal countries.
The first meeting of the management committee, formed to oversee the event, was held on Sunday. The committee decided to invite heads of state and government from mountainous and coastal countries, climate experts, representatives from national and international private sectors, and influential figures.
The committee is chaired by Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, with Forests and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri serving as co-coordinator. The committee comprises representatives from the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Planning Commission, and other government bodies. The Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Deepak Kumar Kharal, serves as the member-secretary.
Joint Secretary Maheshwor Dhakal, contact person for the event, said that the committee has finalized infrastructure and program arrangements. An expert committee of 16 specialists and a publicity and coordination committee led by a Joint Secretary from the Foreign Ministry have also been formed.
The event will feature provincial-level dialogues and preparatory discussions involving children and youth. Partner organizations will be invited to showcase best practices in mitigating climate change impacts.
According to Kharal, the dialogue will amplify Nepal’s voice on climate change, highlighting the nation’s vulnerability despite its minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. Nepal will advocate for compensation for climate-related losses and payment for its environmental services.
The global temperature is projected to rise by 1.8°C before 2050, surpassing the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting the rise to 1.5°C. Research suggests this could result in the loss of two-thirds of snow storage in the mountains.
Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dadhiram Bhandari, who is leading the preparations, emphasized that the event is a top priority for the government. It seeks to raise global awareness about the consequences of climate change in Nepal’s mountain regions and foster a common understanding among local and international communities.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced the event on January 21, 2025, during the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation. Originally planned during his first premiership in 2019, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
