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Nepal Hosts Landmark Sagarmatha Sambaad to Confront Global Climate Crisis

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Nepal inaugurates the third edition of the Sagarmatha Sambaad (Everest Dialogue) today, a high-profile international summit convening global leaders, policymakers, and experts to address the existential threats posed by climate change to mountain ecosystems and vulnerable communities worldwide. The three-day dialogue, held under the theme “Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity,” will run from May 16 to 18, with over 350 participants, including 175 foreign delegates, representing governments, multilateral institutions, and civil society.

Inauguration and High-Level Participation
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who chairs the Sambaad’s Steering Committee, will inaugurate the event with a keynote speech, emphasizing Nepal’s role as a voice for climate-vulnerable nations. Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba will deliver opening remarks, setting the stage for urgent multilateral cooperation. The ceremony will feature addresses by Shri Bhupender Yadav, India’s Minister of Environment, and Xiao Jie, Vice Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress, alongside a special video message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Azerbaijan’s COP29 President-Designate, Mukhtar Babayev, will outline priorities for the upcoming UN climate summit, reinforcing the Sambaad’s alignment with global climate diplomacy.

Thematic Sessions and Actionable Solutions
The dialogue will feature 12 focused sessions tackling critical issues, including strategies to limit global warming to 1.5°C, economic resilience in mountain regions, climate-induced loss and damage in island states, and inclusive policymaking across generations and genders. Delegates will also explore financing mechanisms for climate adaptation and the role of technology in mitigating environmental risks.

PM Oli’s Call to Action and Book Launch
On the eve of the summit, PM Oli launched “Climate Calamity: Justice for Loss and Damage” by Dr. Gopal Krishna Shivakoti, a treatise advocating reparations for climate-affected nations. “Our planet’s rising temperatures and pollution demand collective action to secure a dignified future for generations. Their faces must radiate hope, not despair,” Oli declared, pledging to integrate the book’s insights into his Sambaad address. The launch event saw contributions from National Human Rights Commission Chair Tap Bahadur Magar, former Foreign Minister Dr. Bimala Rai Paudyal, and climate scientist Manjil Dhakal.

Global Voices and Historical Context
Inspired by forums like the World Economic Forum and India’s Raisina Dialogue, the Sambaad—first conceptualized in 2019 but delayed by the pandemic—aims to position Nepal as a hub for climate advocacy. Notable participants include Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana (UNESCAP), ADB Vice-President Fatima Yasmin, SAARC Secretary-General Md. Golam Sarwar, and BIMSTEC’s Indra Mani Pandey, highlighting the event’s multilateral scope.

Side Engagements and Expected Outcomes
Parallel to formal sessions, delegates will hold bilateral meetings with PM Oli and Nepali officials, fostering partnerships for climate-resilient infrastructure and policy frameworks. The summit will culminate in the Kathmandu Declaration, a roadmap for equitable climate action prioritizing mountain and island nations.

Nepal’s Strategic Vision
As glaciers retreat and extreme weather escalates, Nepal seeks to galvanize a coalition for “climate justice,” urging wealthier nations to honor funding commitments and technology transfers. “Mountains are Earth’s barometers. Their fragility mirrors our collective vulnerability,” remarked Foreign Minister Deuba, underscoring the Sambaad’s role in amplifying marginalized voices on the global stage.

With its blend of urgency and ambition, the Sagarmatha Sambaad underscores Nepal’s pivot from climate victim to advocate, striving to turn dialogue into tangible safeguards for humanity’s future.

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