KATHMANDU, May 27: Senior leader of the main ruling coalition partner Nepali Congress, General Secretary and MP Bishwa Prakash Sharma, sent a letter to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli from Everest Base Camp.
After reaching the third camp on the Everest ascent, Sharma descended to Base Camp and personally delivered the letter to Prime Minister Oli. In the letter, Sharma emphasized that Nepal must take a leadership role in tackling climate change.
Sharma thanked Prime Minister Oli for organizing the 'Everest Dialogue' and stated that Nepal must now lead efforts to address climate change.
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In his letter, Bishwa Prakash Sharma explained that reaching Camp 3 on the Everest ascent allowed him to observe the mountain closely. He described, "On one side, we see white snow-covered peaks, but on the other, dark rock faces are spreading. Snow is melting, landslides are increasing, glacial lakes are becoming unstable, and human settlements face growing risks. This tragic scene raises a serious question—if these conditions persist, what state will our mountains be in after just one and a half to two decades?"
Sharma sent a 19-point letter to Prime Minister Oli, urging him to highlight these issues in international discussions to address the climate crisis. He stressed that the government must engage everyone working in the region, from icefall doctors, professional climbers, and climbing organizations to rescuers and laborers.
In the letter, Sharma asked Prime Minister Oli, "If the government does not encourage these human resources, the mountains may remain for the next decade, but without hands to serve, how will mountaineering tourism survive?"
Sharma also demanded that authorities declare the first Everest climber, Tenzing Sherpa, a national hero. He proposed that the government posthumously honor Edmund Hillary with honorary citizenship. Sharma explained, "Both personalities climbed Everest in times very different from today's mountains. Therefore, the “mountain exploration campaigns can continue using their names and legacies even after their deaths. Declaring Tenzing Sherpa a national hero will also pay collective tribute to all climbers and mountain workers."
