Today marks the final day of the three-day Sagarmatha Sambaad underway in Kathmandu.The international dialogue on the issues of climate change and its impacts stands out because it is an international forum initiated and established by Nepal itself. Our delegates have routinely participated in international forums that are conceived, initiated and organized by foreign entities. Participation in such events has usually been limited to attending sessions, listening passively, applauding speeches and declarations and returning home with little more than a sense of attendance. However, the Sagarmatha Sambaad initiated by Nepal itself tries to change this notion. Nepal seeks to assert a leadership role in diplomacy rooted in neutrality and constructive engagement on pressing global issues through this dialogue. Foreign Minister and Chair of the Dialogue’s Steering Committee, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, has rightly emphasized that this initiative aims to showcase Nepal’s commitment to global challenges, promote collaboration and partnership and strengthen national confidence while enhancing Nepal’s image on the world stage. This forum is particularly significant because it embodies the principle of “those most affected should lead.” Nepal, a country bearing the brunt of the climate crisis despite its negligible contribution to climate change, is stepping forward to share its experience with the world. It is now the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure that the outcomes of this international summit are translated into concrete action.
The inaugural edition of this global forum centers on the theme “Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity.” Designed to foster dialogue and find solutions to critical human and environmental issues, the initiative is meaningful from many perspectives. Naming the forum after Sagarmatha—Mount Everest, one of Nepal’s most iconic natural treasures—is a thoughtful and strategic decision that is expected to help draw international attention and promote Nepal’s global identity. With high-level delegations from 12 nations and broad representation from global stakeholders, it is clear that Nepal’s initiative is gaining international recognition. Keynote speakers such as COP29 President and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Mukhtar Babayev, India’s Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, and Zhao Ziliang, Vice Chair of the Local Committee of China’s 14th National People’s Congress at the opening session underscore the weight and relevance of the event. Over 175 international delegates, including ministers from various countries, and representatives from regional organizations like SAARC and BIMSTEC and multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, as well as universities, research institutes, civil society organizations, and NGOs, are among those participating in the event. The discussions on plenary sessions, parallel sessions, roundtables, and sideline meetings on critical topics such as mountain economies, climate-related loss and damage and shared concerns spanning from the mountains to the oceans reflect the dialogue’s ambitious and constructive agenda.
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Needless to say, climate change is the most urgent challenge of our time, sparing no region of the world from its impact. Its effects are already evident in mountainous countries like Nepal. Our high mountains, glaciers, and alpine communities—valued not just nationally but globally—are bearing the brunt of the crisis. Many once-snow-capped peaks have now turned into bare rock, and the world’s ecological systems are already affected. As the Sambaad concludes today, it is critically important to take necessary measures to ensure that the outcomes and recommendations that came from the different sessions are seriously implemented through ourselves, our development partners and multilateral institutions. In order to elevate the outcomes of the Sagarmatha Sambaad to the international level, the key findings and takeaways should be distilled into clear, actionable messages aligned with global agendas such as the Paris Agreement, the SDGs, and the Sendai Framework. They should be strategically framed to highlight the Himalayas' global significance in climate resilience and risk. The outcomes can be shared through policy briefs, summit communiqués and targeted presentations at multilateral forums like COP, UNGA and regional development conferences. Engaging international institutions such as the UN agencies, World Bank, ADB, building alliances with climate-vulnerable countries and collaborating with global think tanks and advocacy networks will enhance impact. Finally, strong communication through media, op-eds and storytelling—focused on mountain communities and urban climate risks—can amplify the Sambaad’s voice and push for institutional uptake and implementation.
