Kathmandu, 16 May: Speaking at the opening session of the Sagarmatha Dialogue, which began in Kathmandu on Friday, she said, “Our glaciers, the silent symbols of a healthy planet, are melting at an alarming rate. Structures that took millennia to form are silently disappearing before our eyes.” She added that the climate crisis is shaking the very foundation of existence for mountain communities.
“Nepal, a mountainous country at high risk of natural disasters, is currently in a serious dilemma. In recent years, we have faced extreme weather events that have had devastating impacts on people’s lives,” she said. “Floods, glacial lake outbursts, droughts, water scarcity, and wildfires have caused immense suffering across the country.”
She emphasized that for Nepal, the Himalayas are not just cultural heritage but also the backbone of national pride and identity, and called for deep cooperation between governments, the private sector, and civil society at the international level for their preservation.
“We inherited a complete and healthy planet from our ancestors. It is now our responsibility to pass it on to future generations with its greenery, beauty, and strength intact,” she said.
Highlighting Nepal’s commitment under the Paris Agreement, she mentioned that the country is working to reduce carbon emissions and adopt local solutions. She also shared Nepal’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.
“Nepal’s community forestry programs have not only expanded forest areas but have become global models of conservation,” she said. “However, the impacts of global warming exceed our capacity. We call for adequate and predictable climate finance so that national and local adaptation plans can be implemented.”
Stating that climate change is a global crisis, she also stressed the need for a just global alliance to address it.
With the aim of informing the global community about climate change and its impacts, and seeking solutions, the Government of Nepal has launched the ‘Sagarmatha Dialogue’ in Kathmandu for the first time. The event, which begins today, will run until Jestha 4 (May 18). Around 175 foreign guests and a similar number of Nepali participants are attending the program.
