By Deepak Joshi Pokhrel

From May 16 to 18 this month, Nepal is hosting the much-touted first-ever “Sagarmatha Samabd”. The event will be a dialogue on climate change, mountains and the future of humanity with a high emphasis on the impact of climate change on Nepal and other mountainous countries and the incline in the sea level. The event will be attended by experts, heads of state and government, representatives from multilateral and donor communities and others. The event has been perceived as both timely and contextual given the ever-increasing threats posed by climate change including disasters in Nepal and other mountainous countries. However, there is already a tell-tale situation with people raising concerns about whether the event will just be a formality or if it will deliver the result at the ground level.

Over the years, climate change and the impact caused by it, especially on those living in vulnerable areas, have been at the centre stage of discourse. From national to international, the media has been exclusively highlighting the impact of climate change on the livelihoods of people.

It is a fact that climate defines life on earth. It is also a fact that life exists on earth because of favourable climate. But this same climate has been indiscriminately exploited by the haphazard and uncontrolled human activities endangering the lives of flora and fauna on the planet. The planet is experiencing unprecedented warming. In January 2025, the global average surface air temperature reached 13.23 degrees centigrade – 1.75 degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels. This marked the 18th month out of 19 in which global temperatures exceeded the 1.5-degree centigrade threshold. The problem of temperature swings, known as temperature whiplash, is not only common but also intense. The report states that more than 60% of the world population experienced extreme changes in weather patterns with an increase in the sharp rise in temperature from 1961 to 2023, reinforcing an urgency for immediate climate action.

Be it Himalayan countries or island nations, the impact of climate change is glaring. In the Himalayas, the temperature rise has severely affected the snowfall, glacial retreat, altered water availability and increased risk of natural disasters. The credible report states that snowfall has dropped to a 23-year low. The consequences arising from it are gigantic, as it threatens the freshwater supply for nearly two billion people across Asia. The Himalayan glaciers are the source of the world’s great rivers, such as the Yangtze, the Ganges, the Indus and the Mekong. But the snow level has dropped sharply in recent times, with Mekong and Salween basin reserves more than 50% below average. These statistics are alarming, and it is very likely to deteriorate further if swift action is not taken to this end.

Nepal has been witnessing a sharp increase in weather events such as landslides and floods driven by climate change. A glaring example is the flash flood and landslides of last September in the country's capital driven by record-breaking rainfall. During the flood, more than 215 people lost their lives, and property worth millions was swept away by the bulging rivers. The other example is the glacial outburst at the Thame River in the Everest region led to floods and landslides. The result was catastrophic: 20 houses, Thame Elementary School and the clinic were destroyed. Likewise, over 130 people were displaced in Ward 5 of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality in Solukhumbu District.

Not only this, the impact of climate change has also adversely affected the livelihoods of those living in the Himalayan region. According to the World Bank report 2022, climate change has far-reaching and diverse effects, with alterations in weather patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather patterns such as erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and intense monsoons. These changes disrupt agriculture, exacerbate water scarcity and increase the risk of landslides and floods. Furthermore, it also leads to a decline in crop yields, a change in cropping patterns, increased pest infestation and reduced water availability. These undesired changes eventually impact the livelihoods of people, forcing them to migrate to other areas which already reel under limited resources. This often leads to social conflict between the migrants and the native population.

While the Himalayan nations are bearing the brunt of climate change, the situation in island nations is not different either. Countries like Sri Lanka and the Maldives, etc., are reported to be vulnerable due to rising water levels driven by climate change. These countries face significant threats to their natural capital, especially to their marine ecosystems, impacting the business related to pisciculture, which is the major source of subsistence for the people of island nations.

Amidst this paradoxical stage, the Sagarmath Sambad seems to offer a cross-cultural space for experts and heads of government and state to come under one roof for a benevolent cause. The first-ever three-day dialogue is expected to provide a platform to acknowledge the past efforts and recognise the gaps, hinting at doable and local solutions. The multi-stakeholder dialogue is expected to find the solution to the local, regional and global challenges driven by climate change. Climate justice is also one of the core themes of the dialogue. Despite being a low emitter, Nepal is disproportionately affected by the carbon-intensive development of wealthier nations. To say, countries like these are bearing the brunt of the problem created by the developed nations. In 2024, Nepal imported more than 70% of its electric vehicles, mainly from China. We hope that dialogue will advocate for greater funding in climate-resilient infrastructure and bolder commitments to green energy transition and inclusive development.

The event is an ample opportunity for Nepal to tell the world how it has been bearing the brunt of a problem which is not of its making. The Sagarmath dialogue is also a colossal platform to disseminate the information that the Himalayas are the frontline region for climate change. In a nutshell, the event is a space to highlight the challenges driven by climate change and come up with collaborative and collective efforts to address them. We hope we will be able to do this.