Spread the love

By Shanker Man Singh

The Sagarmatha Dialogue is being organized on Jestha 2-4 (May 16 to 18). Nepal is going to organize the Dialogue to raise the problems faced by mountainous and coastal countries on the issue of climate change.      The government is preparing to invite representatives from at least 100 countries to participate. The Sagarmatha Dialogue, which was to be organized five years ago at the initiative of Prime Minister Oli, was initially stopped due to the Corona pandemic.

        The Prime Minister’s Office has stated that preparations are being made to invite the heads of state or government of neighboring countries of the dialogue program, including India, China and South Asian countries, as special guests.

        Not only is the ‘Dialogue’ named after the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, located in Nepal but it is also said that Nepal is preparing to hold a debate on the impact of climate change on mountainous areas in its first edition.

        The Nepal government established the Sagarmatha Dialogue in 2019 as a platform for global debate on its important issues. This multi-stakeholder forum, established by the Government of Nepal, is expected to hold biennial debates on issues of global, regional and national importance.

        Prime Minister Oli announced in Magh that the Sagarmatha Dialogue would be held this year to mark the International Year of Glaciers, 2025.

        It also aims to highlight the link between dialogue and climate change, particularly its impact on mountainous regions. The program aims to establish Nepal as a key player in advocating for climate justice and become a platform for global discussion and action.

Main Objectives and Themes

        Strengthening the Himalayan Partnership: The primary objective is to create a shared understanding of climate change issues and encourage action through international cooperation. The program aims to “Strengthen the Himalayan Partnership Framework at the national and international levels”.

Addressing the Impact of Climate Change in Himalayan Regions:

        The main focus is on the disproportionate impact of climate change in mountainous regions, particularly in the Himalayas. The goal is to “build a shared understanding among mountain nations, maritime nations, and nations around the world about the impacts of climate change in the mountainous region.”

Advocating for climate justice:

        A strong emphasis is placed on the concept of “climate justice.” Nepal wants to highlight the fact that it is suffering from the disproportionate impact of climate change on its contribution to the problem.

        Nepal wants to make the international community understand that we are being punished for a mistake we did not make. Others are causing glaciers to melt, and we are being punished with floods and landslides,” says one source.

Promoting sustainable development:

        The dialogue seeks to encourage discussions on investments in low-carbon emissions and the conservation of natural resources. It is a “dialogue between governments, policymakers, experts, and all stakeholders to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and mobilize commitment for concrete climate action.”

Raising global awareness:

        The Sagarmatha Dialogue aims to bring the Himalayan issue and its importance to the attention of the international community, and it highlights Nepal as a leading global voice. The dialogue is being organized “to bring the mountain issue to the international community.”

Promoting tourism:

        It also seeks to promote tourism in Nepal as a side benefit of hosting international events. The Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed that the dialogue aims to promote the country’s tourism.

Nepal’s role Taking a leadership position:

        Nepal has positioned itself as a leader in the global dialogue on climate change, especially with regard to the Himalayan region. The Sagarmatha Dialogue aims to establish a global consensus on climate change. “Nepal has an opportunity to take the lead on this issue,” says one source. Amplifying the voices of nations at risk: Nepal, despite its small contribution to the problem, is being presented as the voice of nations disproportionately affected by climate change. It is “taking a stand for climate justice” and it is “bearing the brunt of the impacts of climate change despite having a minimal carbon footprint.”

Highlighting Nepal’s unique perspective:

        Nepal highlights its rich history, cultural heritage, its location in the heart of Asia, its commitment to multilateralism, and its domestic success stories as a basis of legitimacy and strength from which it speaks on the international stage. Nepal’s homegrown peace process can teach the world” and “it would not be an exaggeration to say that we have a unique historical perspective as a country of sages and philosophers.”

On climate injustice:

        We have not made the mistakes that others have made, yet we suffer. Glaciers are melting due to others, floods, and landslides and we are suffering from it. On Nepal’s leadership on climate issues: “Nepal is one of the countries affected by climate change, and Nepal is raising this issue, it is an issue that has attracted the attention of the international community, and Nepal has the opportunity to take the lead on this issue.” On the interconnection of mountains and oceans: The inherent relationship between mountains and oceans, where many ecosystems depend on each other, is highlighted. On the impact of climate change on the Himalayas:

On the impact of climate change on the Himalayas:

Due to altitude-dependent temperatures, our mountains are warming faster than the global average.

Possible participation of Indian Prime Minister Modi

        Invitation as chief guest: Although it has been made public that the Nepal government has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest at the Sagarmatha Dialogue, there has been no official confirmation. If Modi visits, there is no doubt that it will further enhance the importance of the Sagarmatha Dialogue.

        According to the Climate Change Management Division of the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Nepal plans to use the first edition of the Sagarmatha Dialogue to draw the attention of the international community to the issue of mountain regions. “The primary objective is to create a common understanding among mountain nations, maritime nations and countries around the world about the impact of climate change on mountain regions and to voice the issue of mountains to the international community,” according to a source who has been made public. The government also plans to hold a debate at the Sagarmatha Sambad on the issue of Nepal not benefiting from investments in low carbon emissions and conservation of natural resources and resources. In addition, the ministry has stated that at the Sagarmatha Sambad, Nepal will also inform about the issues on which Nepal wants to collaborate with the international community in the field of climate change and will also hold a discussion on the economics related to the mountains. Possible list of guests The program is expected to include heads and representatives of international organizations working in the field of climate change, heads and representatives of multilateral development banks including the World Bank, ADB, institutions and universities working and researching in the field of conservation, celebrities, athletes and influencers, heads and representatives of associations, provinces and local levels, parliamentarians, heads and representatives of non-governmental organizations working in Nepal. The Sagarmatha Sambad (Sambad) is named after the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), which is also a symbol of friendship and is intended to promote the concept of common interests and the collective well-being of humanity. Everest, as the highest natural landmark on Earth, is also the tallest witness to the unfolding global events. We are living in a crucial period in human history. The frontiers of technology are expanding, unleashing immense opportunities and challenges. It is clear that many industrialized countries have enriched themselves at the expense of nature. Such trends have also deepened the problem of climate change. Disasters caused by erratic weather have claimed many lives and made the development path more expensive. This year alone, we have seen many disasters everywhere. Natural disasters have not spared even countries with advanced economies and technology. If the world does not stop the journey of stupidity, the consequences of climate change will be even more devastating. As we can see, climate change is affecting high mountain and coastal regions the most. And the Himalayas are no exception. The temperature of our mountains is rising faster than the global average due to altitude-dependent temperatures. The snow-capped mountains of Nepal act as a natural stabilizer for the planet’s climate. The Himalayas are often referred to as the “Third Pole” because they play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the oceans. These snow-capped peaks act as heat sinks. Their glaciers and melting rivers sustain the flora, ecosystems, and people living downstream. The global “water tower” is sadly drying up. In fact, there is an inherent relationship between mountains and oceans, with many ecosystems dependent on each other. As a result, any ecological changes in the mountains can have far-reaching effects on the planet, including impacts on coastal areas, small island states, and oceans. Rapid melting of snow and unpredictable rainfall has turned the once-gloomy white mountains into black rock. Causes and consequences of climate change It is hard to imagine anyone not wondering about our planet Earth and our relationship with it when they see the towering mountains as they land in Kathmandu. These mountain ranges are a valuable source of water for 250 million people in the Hindu Kush Himalayas and another 1.65 billion in the lower coastal areas. Therefore, Nepal is the fourth most vulnerable country in terms of climate change. Glacial lakes and glacial rivers According to relevant experts, glaciers are shrinking at a rate of 60 meters every year, which is causing glacial lakes to form and increasing the possibility of glacial lake breaks and floods. It is worth noting that this issue has not been given the expected importance. This change is not necessary, but carbon emissions will be halved every decade from 2050. To get there, we need to quickly switch to renewable energy, build new electricity networks, increase energy efficiency and adopt low-carbon transport.

COP29 and Nepal

        This special issue on climate, in partnership with the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), is a unique opportunity to bring together a diverse range of voices from academics, policymakers, the private sector and youth activists. Green finance bridges the large gap in financing for the Sustainable Development Goals and promotes a resilient development paradigm.

        Nepal identifies a financing gap of Rs 585 billion (US$ 4.4 million) to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, of which Rs 36.7 million is expected to come from the private sector. There were many innovations from the Paris Agreement, but three were key. First, the explicit objective of keeping warming below 2°C, with a stretch objective of 1.5°C. Second, the innovation of Voluntary Country Plans (NDCs) was added to assess what would happen if countries met their commitments.   Third, the engagement of the private sector and non-state actors, so that solutions to this major problem can be bottom-up and top-down. The Sagarmatha Dialogue represents a significant effort by the Government of Nepal to address the critical issue of climate change, with particular attention to its impact on the Himalayan region and marginalized countries.

        It seeks to be a platform for international dialogue, collaboration, and action, positioning Nepal as a leading voice in the global climate justice movement. The significance of the program is indicated by its planning history, focus on critical climate-related issues and the high-profile participation it seeks.