Apa was in the forefront of the WWF-Nepal-led campaign ‘Climate for Life’ throughout last year. The campaign extensively raised the issue of impact of climate change on the Himalayas starting with Apa taking the first banner on climate change to the Everest. The hero even spent traveling across Europe raising awareness on the grave matter. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Apa’s efforts have helped tremendously to bring the agenda of the Himalayas into the international climate change debate as the concerns of a small nation like Nepal was consistently sidelined from the climate change movement before that. He directly established the fact that melting Himalayas is a reality when during his last expedition he noticed increase in the size of the glacier lakes. He spoke at length about his experiences before the world community culminating in to his meeting with the Austrian President whom Apa gifted a stone that he picked from atop Everest. A similar rock piece was gifted by Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal to the US president and the prime minister of the UK.
And that is not all. Of all his efforts to save the Himalayas, the most commendable is the cleanliness drive that he resorted to last year. Apa’s team picked up 7,000 kg of garbage from the camp areas. This time too the expedition has aimed at collecting another 7,000 kg. Apa and Dawa said that since they “owe everything to Sagarmatha,” they must “give it something in return.” No doubt, the duo is working toward a noble cause and thus their contribution will be hailed for many years to come. For now, here is wishing Apa and his team all the very best!
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