Kathmandu, 18 May: The Sagarmatha Dialogue, held over three days in Kathmandu, concluded with the release of a 25-point declaration titled the “Sagarmatha Call for Action.” The dialogue drew global attention to the need for establishing a climate fund specifically focused on the Himalayan region.
The declaration emphasized that the impact of climate change on mountain regions necessitates targeted climate finance. World leaders reached a consensus on the need to establish a Himalaya-focused climate center to address these challenges.
The Sagarmatha Dialogue stressed the importance of mobilizing climate finance to tackle the problems caused by climate change. It stated that Himalayan countries affected by climate change should be prioritized in receiving financial support in the form of grants or concessional loans.
Additionally, the declaration highlighted that access to and the mechanisms for deploying climate finance must be simplified. It also called on all nations to strengthen their climate plans to prevent global temperatures from rising beyond 1.5°C.
The dialogue emphasized the collective need to work toward building a green economy and expanding mountain-related discussions. It also called for enhancing and making early warning systems more effective and robust.
Given the increasing risks posed by climate change—such as floods, droughts, landslides, and rising sea levels—the declaration proposed the establishment of a dedicated climate fund for Himalayan countries, easier access to climate finance, and greater investment from the private sector.
Although mountain communities contribute minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, they bear a disproportionately high burden of climate change impacts. To address this, the declaration advocated for climate justice and greater participation of local communities, Indigenous peoples, women, youth, persons with disabilities, and the elderly, as well as the development of payment mechanisms for environmental services.
The Sagarmatha Dialogue also expressed a strong commitment to establishing international multi-stakeholder platforms and knowledge hubs focused on the Himalayas, in order to amplify the voices of mountain communities on the global stage.
The overarching goal of the Sagarmatha Dialogue is to permanently advocate for, address, and apply pressure regarding the shared challenges of climate change—from the mountains to the seas—while keeping global dialogue ongoing and effective.
