with Lomanthang Declaration

The International Media Summit 2025 on Democracy, Media Freedom and the Climate Crisis concluded Tuesday, 13th May with the Lomanthang Declaration.

The event hosted by Nepal Press Union was held from 9 to 13 May.This was commenced in Kathmandu, continued in Pokhara and concluded in Lomanthang, Mustang.

Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav said that climate change is the defining crisis of present generation. Media needs to play a vital role in minimizing the impact of climate change. Media plays a critical role in creating public awareness to prevent climate crises, he said.

“Media should carry on fact-based reporting on climate change, thereby informing people, equipping policy makers and promoting new technology to resolve the problems fueled by climate change,” VP Yadav suggested.

“The journalists can bring to light the pressing issues of climate change like environment-friendly technology, government’s efforts to minimize impacts, adaptation initiatives, green energy and sustainable development in an understandable manner to the public. It helps in frustrating misinformation and fostering media professionalism,” he added.

“Press freedom is a backbone of democracy. It is prerequisite to robust democracy where accountability and transparency can prevail,” the Vice President stressed.

VP Yadav also said that baseless information spread via social networking sites was misleading people. Even the deep fake technology was used to prepare such misinformation- fake pictures and vides. It is challenging, and warrants a strong fact- check system in place.

The participants included federal government ministers, journalists, media professionals, civil society members, trade union leaders, province chief minister and ministers and representatives of the local governments, political activists, development professionals, advocates and activists of democracy, freedom of the expression, media freedom, and climate crisis mitigation as well as the representatives from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and delegates from different countries. 

At the end of the summit various resolutions adopted as ‘Lomanthang Declaration’ on democracy, media freedom and climate crisis, with commitment and call for actions in themes such as Democracy, Press Freedom, Climate Crisis, including a special attention to Lomanthang, Mustang, where the final leg of the summit was held.

The Declaration calls for promoting collaborative and consistent dialogue for advancing mutual collaboration among journalism, political parties and civil society for strengthening public trust on democracy and the political system. “This collaboration can defend civic space including freedom of the association, assembly and access to information and free press.”

On climate crisis, the Declaration states that climate crisis is main agenda of the region so the political parties here should prioritize and express solidarity for addressing climate crisis at political level. It also calls for eco-friendly inclusive and sustainable development policy, planning, approaches and infrastructure while noting that access to information and transparency are connected. “Only an informed society can explore its role to counter the climate crisis.”

Exclusively mentioning Lomanthang, the declaration calls on the federal government of Nepal to ensure smooth operation of Korala transit entry point between Nepal and China and complete the Kaligandaki Corridor which could be instrumental to contribute to development of the region. Keeping in view the trans-Himalayan district Mustang’s cultural and natural features and trade potentials but facing the worst forms of impacts of climate change, it emphaises to bring into focus.

It also calls for promoting cultural and religious tourism in the region by establishing easier connectivity to Muktinath, Damodar Kunda and Kalisah Mansarobar.

Moreover, considering the need to build further awareness of journalists’ rights, better digital literacy, and a more connected media for defending democracy and media freedom as well as countering climate crisis, the Declaration calls for development of a credible and public interests media realizing the importance of strong information ecosystem and integrity. 

Likewise, importance of connections between the democracy, free press and climate crisis for broader humanity and planet, the Declaration recognizes the efforts of all who have worked towards promoting and consolidating democracy and media freedom and standing up against the acts of harassments, intimidation and threats to media freedom, in any part of the Nepal and elsewhere in the world.

On the occasion, Executive Chair of Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) and former President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Dharmendra Jha, former FNJ presidents Taranath Dahal, Harihar Birahi and other senior journalists were present.