KATHMANDU, March 3: Preparations for the 'Sagarmatha Sambaad’ to be held in Kathmandu from May 16-18 under the title 'Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Human Life' have begun in full swing. The main aim of this is to present problems faced by mountainous and coastal countries regarding climate change to the world community.
The first meeting of the management committee has decided to invite heads of state and government of countries located in mountainous and coastal areas, experts working in the field of climate research, national and international private sector representatives, subject matter experts and personalities who can influence society.
The committee, coordinated by Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, has prepared the infrastructure arrangements and program for the dialogue, said Maheshwor Dhakal, the contact person for the dialogue.
The committee has decided to form an expert group comprising 16 experts from various fields, and to form a publicity and coordination committee under the coordination of the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting has decided to urge partner organizations to demonstrate good practices in reducing the effects of climate change.
According to Joint Secretary Dhakal, dialogue will also be held at the provincial level, preparatory dialogues will be held on the issues of children and youth, necessary staff for the dialogue will be deployed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Forests and the Office of the Council of Ministers, and the dialogue secretariat will be made active.
Minister for Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri is the co-coordinator of the committee led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The committee includes the Chief Secretary to the Government, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, the Secretaries of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Home, National Planning Commission, Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, the Executive Director of the Alternative Energy Promotion Center, and the Member Secretary of the National Nature Conservation Fund. The Member Secretary of the committee is the Forest Secretary.
Earlier, a preparatory meeting was held in the presence of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on February 9. The meeting discussed issues such as inviting heads of state or government of neighboring countries India, China, and South Asian countries as special guests for the dialogue program. On January 21, Prime Minister Oli announced that the dialogue program would be held in Kathmandu on the occasion of the International Year of the Glaciers, 2025.
Earlier, the preparations for the Sagarmatha Sambaad, which was initiated by the then Prime Minister Oli-led government in 2076 BS, had to be postponed at the last minute due to COVID-19.