The Nepal Weekly 
May 20, 2025
Participants in one of the panel discussions held during the three-day Sagarmatha Sambad or international dialogue on mountain, underscored that “the protection of mountain ecology is important for preservation of eco-system of the mountains.” “Exploration of Nature, Culture and Adventure in the Mountains” was the theme of the discussion.
“It is important to preserve the Himalayas for the sake of culture, lifestyle, wildlife, biodiversity and tourism from the Himalayas to the downstream region,” they said.
Those taking part in the panel discussion included Ghanashyam Gurung, country director of World Wildlife Fund, Nepal, Rajan Subedi, River Basin Manager of Oxfam, Maurin Anino, deputy commissioner of Water and Forest Ministry of Uganda, Chhiring Sherpa, CEO of Everest Pollution Control Committee and Anil Chitrakar, leading environmentalist.
The mountain region has covered 22 per cent of the area of the earth and the mountain eco-system supports livelihood of around fifty per cent of the population of the world, according to the experts.
The Hindu Kush Himalaya region with its unprecedented diverse culture, language, religion, ethnicity and traditional knowledge attracts more than 70 million tourists from across the world, they said.
The experts, on the occasion, underscored the need to identify new solutions for strengthening the ecosystem of the mountain region and to explore possibilities of investing in natural capital with a view to benefitting a large number of people living in the region.
Speaking at a parallel discussion, Minister for Forest and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri said that the residents of Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region were facing serious impacts of climate change though their contributions to carbon emission is negligible.
Stating that the rise in temperature in the Himalayan region was relatively higher than the global average, Shahi Thakuri said that the rise in temperature was taking a toll on both ecosystem and human lives.
Highlighting the vulnerability of mountains to climate change, he said that “mountains, which are the sources of our civilization and prosperity, are reeling under adverse impacts of climate change and contributing to recurring cases of disasters, including burst of glacial lakes, drought, landslide, erratic rainfall among others”.
He said that climate action should be taken forward in collaboration as rivers, glacial rivers and ecosystems are not confined to the countries’ borders.
In another discussion, Achim Stenier, administrator at the United Nations Development Programme, sent a video message where he hailed the dialogue, and reiterated the urgent global call for mitigation and adaptation. He highlighted how UNDP is supporting 45 mountain countries including Nepal in mitigation and adaptation measures.
“Glaciers face the threat of bursting. We are supporting Nepal with the early warning system,” he said, praising the country for pushing the agenda of mountain countries.
Dr. Yubraj Khatiwada, former finance minister and economic adviser to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, highlighted the magnitude of the climate crisis and stressed on climate justice. Chairing a roundtable conference, he raised the issue of climate financing to help countries affected by the climate crisis.
On the occasion, Norwegian politician and diplomat Erik Solheim highlighted how India and China are moving towards installing solar energy and asked nations to follow their path. Sheikha Asma Al Thani of Qatar, who had recently climbed Mt Everest, shared her experience and highlighted the impact of a changing climate on the Everest region.
Chanrda Prasad Dhakal, chairman of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce (FNCCI), the umbrella organisation of the Nepali business community, called on the private sector to seek climate financing from investors.
Likewise, speaking during the session “Bridging science and technology for mountain resilience”, Mahdav Karki, who served several institutions in various capacities and worked as an adviser to the prime minister, said climate change is an issue of governance, not science. He called for promotion of indigenous and local knowledge through institutional efforts to help people adapt to the crisis. “We can adopt citizen science and institutionalise local knowledge,” he said.
Abdalah Mokssit, secretary general of the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), stressed on the use of artificial intelligence and neo-science in order to tackle the climate crisis.
At another session titled “Powering the future; harnessing clean energy”, speakers stressed the production of clean energy.
Managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority, Hitrendra Dev Shakya, presented examples on how climate change is affecting water resources. As the water level drops in rivers in the dry season, Nepal is forced to import electricity from India.
Francesco La Camera, director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, proposed setting up a public fund for the promotion of renewable and clean energy to aid disadvantaged or vulnerable communities.
Vice-chancellor of Kathmandu University Dr. Achyut Wagle called for investments for the promotion of green energy. He said that scientific community has produced a lot of data related to climate change. He said that global climate governance needs to be strengthened.
Aditi Mukherji, Director, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Impact Action Platform of the CGIAR, said that agriculture and food systems emit one third of the total GHG emissions. She also said that irrigation is one of the systems that use a lot of energy in this region. She highlighted the importance of finance, capacity development and technology transfer.
In the session “Risk and assessment of mountain regions,” experts discussed the magnitude of the climate crisis triggered by rising temperatures.
On adventure tourism up on the mountains, the experts stressed the need for sustainability while exploring its potential for national development. They pointed to a pressing need for eco-conscious tourism models that respect cultural heritage and local ecosystems while providing economic benefits. Diversifying tourism and promoting high-value, low-impact experiences were presented as key strategies to ensure resilience and sustainability in the face of environmental and socio-cultural changes.
Another central theme of the second day was the loss of indigenous culture and seeds due to migration and modernisation. Sacred traditions, local knowledge, and practices deeply intertwined with nature are disappearing as youths migrate to urban areas and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge declines. There was a call to document and preserve these elements as vital parts of the region’s identity.
Speaking at another parallel session, “Addressing Loss and Damage in the Mountains,” a host of speakers stressed the need to implement adaptation programmes to cope with the impacts of climate change.
Delivering the keynote speech, Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, executive director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, said infrastructure needs to be rebuilt, particularly in countries struggling to meet basic needs. “The loss and damage crisis is an additional burden, and many countries are facing this common challenge,” he said.
He stressed the importance of acknowledging the physical and social realities of climate crises, as well as the fund’s role in responding to these challenges. “We face numerous problems caused by the current climate crisis, including devastating impacts on developing countries and vulnerable communities. Many communities have been severely affected, suffering damage to lives, homes and infrastructure. The crisis disproportionately impacts developing countries, especially in Africa, Asia and other vulnerable regions.”
“Loss and damage funding must be delivered effectively through coordinated efforts involving governments, financial institutions, the private sector, and civil society. We must exchange technical knowledge, share experiences, and identify gaps to improve responses,” remarked Mukhtar Babayev of Azerbaijan noted.
