Apa unfolded a climate change banner that read "You heard our voice, now raise yours: We can stop climate change in the Himalayas" indicating that the fight against climate change is on. [break]
"He reached the top of Everest this morning. He is in sound health and is now heading back to base camp after spending around half an hour on the summit," Laxman Bhattarai, a tourism official, told AFP.
Sherpa, who first scaled Everest in 1990 and has been dubbed the "super Sherpa" for the apparent ease with which he climbs the mountain, dedicated his latest expedition to the impact of climate change on the Himalayas.
Apa is also the WWF Climate Change Ambassador and SAARC Goodwill Ambassador for Climate Change.
A press statement by WWF-Nepal quoted Climate Ambassador Dawa Steven Sherpa as saying from the Everest Base camp: "In 2009, the world gave us massive support when we were involved with Climate for Life with WWF and we are thankful for that support and encouragement; however after Copenhagen, we have felt there is an even greater need to take action against Climate Change now. The fight must continue."
Apa, 50, dubbed the "super Sherpa", had hoped to carry Edmond Hillary´s ashes to the top on his latest expedition, but was warned against doing so by local priests, who worship the mountain as sacred and said it would bring bad luck.
"I am thankful to have been able to climb Mount Everest for the 20th time," he said in a statement published on his website, www.apasherpa.net.
"I also climbed to bring attention to the damage done to the Himalayas because of global climate change."
Apa has his own charitable foundation, and spends much of his time in the United States raising funds to improve education and economic development in his native Nepal.
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