KATHMANDU, May 17: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said Nepal organized the "Sagarmatha Sambad" as multilateralism has weakened worldwide and distrust toward international institutions has risen.
Addressing the inaugural session of the Sagarmatha Sambad on Friday, attended by 175 foreign guests, including high-level delegations from 13 countries, Prime Minister Oli stated that Nepal held the dialogue amid growing skepticism about the global governance system, deepening inequality, and multilateralism engulfed in a storm of alarming uncertainty.
Prime Minister Oli highlighted Nepal as the land of Buddha, a symbol of knowledge and peace, and said the Sambad concept started there. He stated that the mountainous region maintains global climate balance and provides drinking water to millions, but global climate negotiations often neglect the mountains. "We need a bold and unified approach to protect the mountains. We need a vision that connects the mountains to the oceans. Let us not forget the mountains that protect life," he said.
Addressing the direct impact of climate change on the mountainous region and humanity, Prime Minister Oli asked, "Can humanity survive without our mountains? Can we secure our future without protecting these ancient guardians?"
Prime Minister Oli emphasized that the world must solve climate change globally since it is a global problem. He said, "We must base the solution on justice, accountability, and solidarity. Climate justice must guide us."
Highlighting that the G-20 group of wealthy and developing nations produces 80 per cent of global emissions, he stated, "Those who pollute the most must contribute the most to the solution. We must provide financial aid, technology, and capacity building to support vulnerable countries."
Prime Minister Oli highlighted that technological advancements enable events from any corner of the world to reach everywhere instantly. He said, "A wildfire in one region darkens the skies of another. When distant glaciers melt, they disrupt the rainfall cycle, floods submerge farmlands, terraces turn dry and barren, and life fragments."
Climate Reparations: A Call for Sagarmatha Sambad
He added, "Rainfall has become unpredictable, landslides wash away homes, sudden floods strike, and droughts occur. Despite all this, we remain steadfast."
Oli clarified that Nepal organized the Sagarmatha Sambad to discuss climate change, listen to diverse perspectives, and contribute to taking the right actions in the future, following the principle that “words are transient, but wisdom remains.”
Highlighting the severe crisis threatening the world’s mountains, including those in Nepal, and stressing that this poses a shared security issue for the globe, Oli declared, “From the foothills of the world’s highest peak, Sagarmatha, we send a clear and firm message: protecting the mountains means protecting the Earth.”
Foreign Minister Arzu Deuba Rana, delivering the welcome remarks at the inaugural session, said Nepal bears the heavy and unequal burden of the negative impacts of climate change. "We serve as custodians of our rivers, forests, and mountains, yet we are forced to endure the consequences of climate change caused by others. This is a grave injustice that demands urgent attention," she said.
She highlighted how the Himalayas naturally regulate moisture and warned that disturbances in the mountains can impact even the oceans. Stressing the existential threat climate change poses, she urged global cooperation to safeguard life and ensure a secure future for the next generation. "Mountain communities are struggling to survive. Local women and marginalized groups are confronting this challenge in their own ways. To find lasting solutions to the problems in this region, we must mobilize global support from governments, corporations, and civil society," she added.
She emphasized the need to ensure easy access to the recently established Loss and Damage Fund and urged the global community to support Nepal's efforts to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
At the inaugural session, COP-29 President and Azerbaijan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, commended Nepal for organizing the dialogue focused on mountain conservation, climate change mitigation, and the protection of humanity.
He highlighted that climate change has caused Azerbaijan to lose 20 percent of its glaciers over the past seven years, significantly affecting agriculture. "We must respond to the global challenges of climate change with global action," he said.
Highlighting that the UN climate change conference, known as the COP process, has now included mountain issues, he noted that various donor agencies are advancing a funding process worth USD 3.5 billion to protect the world's glaciers.
Likewise, India's Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav, pointed out that while South Asia contributes very little to global carbon emissions, it bears the brunt of climate-related disasters. "We must base our future on collective efforts. To confront climate change, we need to strengthen climate finance and accelerate technology transfer," he said.
He emphasized the importance of shared knowledge and cooperation to meet climate challenges. "Scientific collaboration, climate resilience, early warning systems, and empowering mountain communities are crucial. We must pursue cooperation guided by the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'—the world is one family," he added.
At the inaugural session, Xiao Jie, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Congress, reaffirmed China's commitment to South-South cooperation. He called for the protection of ecological regions worldwide, including the Hindu Kush and Karakoram ranges.
He said that China has actively worked to conserve Chomolungma, also known as Sagarmatha (Mount Everest). He urged developed countries, which bear primary responsibility for climate change, to support developing nations.
During the plenary sessions, ministers, delegation leaders, and experts from various countries urged the Sagarmatha Sambad to go beyond climate change discussions and focus more on the climate actions needed to tackle the crisis.
Experts highlighted that researchers have conducted only a few studies on the status of glacial lakes, glaciers, and snow in the Himalayan region, and even those lack an integrated approach. They pointed out that carbon emissions from India and China have deposited black carbon in the Himalayas, which has accelerated glacier melt. To address this problem, they called for political foresight, cooperation, and the use of climate diplomacy.
The conference has brought together 175 participants, including high-level delegations from 13 countries. Representatives from domestic organizations and experts are also taking part in the dialogue.
The event will feature presentations and discussions on 12 topics, including climate change, global temperature rise, mountain economies, climate-induced loss and damage, and connecting mountains to oceans. The dialogue will run through Sunday.
