SOLUKHUMBU, April 23: The government successfully held the pre-event of the upcoming "Sagarmatha Sambad" in Thame, Solukhumbu, which will take place from May 16 to May 18.
During the event, Defense Minister Manbir Rai inaugurated the conference organized in coordination with all three levels of government. He emphasized the need for unity for the Save the Earth campaign and stated that the Government of Nepal would collaborate with both national and international communities to address this issue. He highlighted that the government organized the Sagarmatha Dialogue for this purpose.
Minister Rai also reminded attendees that floods, caused by glacial lake outbursts as a result of climate change, had devastated the tourist town of Thame. He assured that the government would take steps to rebuild the Thame settlement. "We are all affected by climate change, but we must unite to mitigate its effects, and the government is already taking action," he said.
Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shah, announced that the Government of Nepal will lead the reconstruction efforts for communities affected by climate change-related disasters. Minister Shah emphasized the government's commitment to rebuilding flood-affected settlements, stating that the government has taken ownership of the process and has consistently supported the people of Khumbu.
Climate Reparations: A Call for Sagarmatha Sambad
Princess Asma Al Thani of Qatar, an Everest summiteer, emphasized that climate action should be at the center of every development initiative.
Thani emphasized that the snow on the Himalayas appears to be melting, and the gradual reduction of snow every year signals a major danger. He called for global unity, stating that not only Nepal but the entire world must come together to address this issue and help reconstruct flood-affected areas like Thame.
Balakrishna Basnet, Chairman of the Press Council Nepal, urged all levels of government to carry out reconstruction, rehabilitation, and restoration efforts in a coordinated and planned manner. He also emphasized that the media must prioritize raising climate change issues.
Badri Sigdel, Executive Member of the International Federation of Journalists, praised the government ministers for personally visiting the remote Khumbu region to listen to the concerns of the people.
Subas Darnal of the Nepal Press Union Solukhumbu stressed that journalists must unite to protect the mountains, preserve the mountain ranges, and maintain the balance of the Earth.
After holding discussions and dialogue with climbers, elected representatives, government officials, and local residents, the conference issued a joint five-point declaration from Thame.
The declaration urged organizers of the upcoming Sagarmatha Dialogue, scheduled for May 16, to prioritize issues faced by flood and landslide-affected areas like Thame. It also called on all climbers to unite in advocating for these concerns.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, in a message of best wishes to the conference—hosted by Defense Minister Manveer Rai and chaired by Sajha Sathi Chairperson Prajita Karki—expressed his belief that the climbers' conference in Thame would significantly support the Sagarmatha Dialogue.
Various organizations, including the Nepal Tourism Board and the Nepal Mountaineering Association, partnered to organize the event.
