Latest news with #EverestDialogue
Observer
4 days ago
- Observer
'Sagarmatha Day' celebration calls for environment conservation
Muscat: The Embassy of Nepal in Muscat observed on May 29, 2025 the Sagarmatha Day, commemorating the historic first ascent of Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary on the same day in 1953. This year's event also coincided with Republic Day of Nepal, adding further significance to the celebration. Jamal bin Hassan al Mousawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, was the guest of honour. In his address, the Ambassador of Nepal to the Sultanate of Oman, Dornath Aryal, said, "Sagarmatha Day is a reminder not only for human achievement but also for the majestic beauty of the Himalayas and the urgent need to address challenges being faced by climate change and other environmental issues". He explained that the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region covers eight countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan. This region has a huge area of mountains and it has the largest source of ice and snow outside the polar region. He also pointed out that these mountains are vast sources of fresh water and lifelines of people, flora and fauna. "Our beautiful mountains are facing enormous challenges due to rising temperature and extreme weather conditions. Rising temperature has caused rapid melting of snow, rise of the sea level, drought, glacier lake outburst, floods, landslides, etc. The situation has been quite alarming in recent times", he said. Mountains are not just nature's crown jewels; they are the shared heritage of humanity to maintain ecological balance — from highlands to islands. Global cooperation, collective efforts and actions are required to protect them". In May 2025, Nepal had organised the first edition of Sagarmatha Sambaad (Everest Dialogue) in Kathmandu under the theme of 'Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity'. It concluded issuing a 25-point 'Sagarmatha Call for Action". Sagarmatha Sambaad, a flagship initiative of Nepal, aims to promote inclusive dialogue and encourage meaningful collaboration and cooperation to achieve tangible solutions. The ambassador pointed out that a total number of 350 delegates, including 175 international delegates/participants, took part in the dialogue. The second edition of the Sambaad is expected to be held in 2027. Nadhira al Harthy, the first Omani woman to climb the Sagarmatha (Mount Everest), took part in the conference as a panelist. She shared her experiences of her expedition to Sagarmatha and the recently held Sagarmatha Sambaad. So far, three mountaineers have climbed the Sagarmatha from Oman. The late Khalid bin Sulaiman al Siyabi was the first Omani national to climb Mount Everest in 2010. The third Omani national to climb the Sagarmatha is Suleiman Hamood al Naabi. The ambassador noted that beyond its natural splendour, Nepal is strategically positioned as a bridge between two neighbouring countries, India and China. "This unique geographical proximity provides tremendous opportunities for tourism, trade, investment and many more", he said. As part of the celebration, Ambassador Aryal honoured Nadhira al Harthy with a traditional shawl and felicitated Master Shiva Kochale, a 13-year-old teen who reached the Sagarmatha Base Camp in April 2025. Nadhira said, "We could hear the sound of avalanches every day, but I was ready to go to the top of the world. Every step had a risk, but every risk was a step forward. I wanted to be on the Mount Everest summit." She explained all her training to prepare herself for the climbing of Mount Everest was done on the Omani mountains in Al Rustaq, Al Jabal Al Akhdhar, Jabal Shams and so on and by participating in marathons. "Mountains can tell you everything", she said.
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
‘On Thin Ice': UN Chief Sounds Alarm Over Rapid Himalayan Glacier Melt
16 May 2025 António Guterres issued the warning in a video message to the inaugural Sagarmatha Sambaad, or 'Everest Dialogue,' convened by the Government of Nepal in Kathmandu. ' Record temperatures have meant record glacier melt,' he said. 'Nepal today is on thin ice – losing close to one-third of its ice in just over thirty years. And your glaciers have melted 65 per cent faster in the last decade than in the one before.' Named after Mount Everest (Sagarmatha in Nepali), the international platform convened ministers, parliamentarians, climate experts, and civil society to focus on climate change, mountain ecosystems, and sustainability. Two billion futures at stake Glaciers in the region have served for centuries as vital freshwater reservoirs. Their accelerated melt now threatens not only local communities but vast populations downstream who rely on Himalayan-fed rivers. Reduced water flow in river systems such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus threatens not only water but also food production for nearly two billion people across South Asia. Combined with saltwater intrusion, this could trigger collapsing deltas and mass displacement, the UN chief warned. 'We would see low-lying countries and communities erased forever,' he said. Children raise their voices Ahead of the summit, Nepal's children and youth stepped into the spotlight with their own call to action. In a declaration submitted to the dialogue, over 100 children and young people demanded urgent and inclusive climate action that recognizes them as rights-holders and climate actors – not just passive victims. Among their key demands: ensuring child participation in climate decisions, supporting youth-led programmes, and promoting their innovations and climate action. ' The climate crisis is a child rights crisis – disproportionately impacting their health, nutrition, education and well-being,' said Alice Akunga, head of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Nepal, which supported the deliberations. 'Listening to the voices of the 'future of humanity' is critical to designing and implementing meaningful and lasting solutions to address the adverse effects of climate change on children and youth.' Stop the madness In his message, Mr. Guterres reiterated his call on the world to 'stop the madness' of fossil fuel-driven global warming, a warning he made during his previous visit to the Everest region in 2023. At the time, he stood amid glacial basins in the Himalayas, warning that the 'rooftops of the world' were rapidly vanishing. 'And that is why you are gathered together focused on Sambaad – dialogue,' the UN chief said on Friday, applauding Nepal's climate leadership, including reforestation programmes, early warning systems and its goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. Act now The world must act without delay to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, he continued – the target set by the Paris Agreement on climate change – with the biggest emitters leading the way. This includes investing in renewable energy, fulfilling the $1.3 trillion climate finance goal agreed at COP29, doubling adaptation finance to at least $40 billion this year as pledged by developed countries, and providing robust, sustained support to the Loss and Damage Fund. ' Achieving these goals demands bold collaboration, ' Mr. Guterres concluded. 'The United Nations is your ally in this essential task.'
Qatar Tribune
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
FM's special envoy leads Qatar team to Everest Dialogue, meets Nepal FM, environment minister
QNA Kathmandu Qatar participated in the Everest Dialogue, a three-day event hosted by Nepal under the theme 'Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity'. Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Climate Change and Sustainability HE Ambassador Bader bin Omar Al Dafa represented Qatar at the Dialogue. In his opening remarks at the event, Ambassador Al Dafa underlined Qatar's readiness to collaborate with Nepal in the area of climate change, citing the Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy 2021 that sets out Qatar's solutions to climate change effects. During his participation in a session on Food Security and Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Ambassador Al Dafa stressed that climate change is associated with food security challenges, calling for utilising cutting-edge technologies in this regard. He highlighted Qatar's experience in enhancing agricultural production and the significance of sharing experiences and expertise among nations. He emphasised that donors should fulfil their commitments to support food security and programmes, and counter climate change effects in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). On the sidelines of the conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba held talks with Ambassador Al Dafa. The agenda included ways to foster bilateral cooperation and coordination in battling climate change effects and promoting sustainable development. Minister for Forests and Environment of Nepal Ain Bahadur Shahi met with Ambassador Al Dafa. During the meeting, they discussed avenues for enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the areas of conserving the environment and curbing the effects of climate change, as well as ecological, animal, and plant diversity. The meetings were also attended by Ambassador of Qatar to Nepal HE Mishaal bin Mohammed Ali Al Ansari.
Qatar Tribune
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar takes part in Everest Dialogue in Nepal
KATHMANDU: The State of Qatar has participated in the Everest Dialogue, a three-day event hosted by Nepal under the theme 'Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity'. Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Climate Change and Sustainability HE Ambassador Bader bin Omar Al Dafa, represented the State of Qatar at the Dialogue. In his opening remarks before the event, Ambassador Al Dafa underlined the State of Qatar's readiness to collaborate with Nepal in the area of climate change, citing the Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy 2021 that sets out Qatar's solutions to climate change effects. During his participation in a session on Food Security and Climate-Resilient Agriculture, Ambassador Al Dafa stressed that climate change is associated with food security challenges, calling for utilizing cutting-edge technologies in this regard. He highlighted the State of Qatar's experience in enhancing agricultural production and the significance of sharing experiences and expertise among nations. He emphasized that donors should fulfill their commitments to support food security and programs and counter climate change effects in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
