Climate defines life on Earth. Amid accelerating climate change—marked by rising temperatures, declining snowfall, retreating glaciers, and diminishing freshwater volumes, even as sea levels rise—the planet faces unprecedented climatic hazards that threaten both life and the environment. In response to these growing destabilizers, the Government of Nepal is convening the Sagarmatha Sambaad (Everest Dialogue), a global dialogue aimed at catalyzing action to mitigate the impacts of climate-induced crises. The dialogue centers on the vital interlinkages between climate change, mountains, and the future of humanity.
Organized around five overarching themes—Beyond Mountains: Linking Mountains to Oceans; Green Economy; Averting, Minimizing and Addressing Loss and Damage; Climate Justice and the Future of Humanity; and Global and Regional Partnerships—the three-day mega conference will bring together heads of state and government, ministers, policymakers, experts on climate change, diplomats, officials, academics, representatives from donor community, civil society advocates, journalists, and implementers from across Asia. Scheduled to take place in Kathmandu from May 16 to 18, 2025, the Sagarmatha Sambaad aims to foster partnership and regional collaboration and shared understanding and solutions to climate challenges.
The planet is experiencing unprecedented warming. In January 2025, the global average surface air temperature reached 13.23°C - 1.75°C above pre-industrial levels. This marked the 18th month out of the past 19 in which global temperatures exceeded the 1.5°C threshold, reinforcing the urgency for immediate climate action. Rapid temperature swings, known as ‘temperature whiplash,’ are becoming more frequent and intense. From 1961 to 2023, over 60% of the world experienced a rise in such abrupt shifts, adversely affecting human health, agriculture, and infrastructure.
In the Himalayas, snowfall has plummeted to a 23-year low, threatening the freshwater supply for nearly two billion people across Asia. The snowmelt from these mountains feeds 12 major river basins—including the Yangtze, Ganges, Indus, Mekong, and Salween. Recent snow levels have dropped sharply, with reserves in the Mekong and Salween basins more than 50% below average. To draw global attention, the United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, emphasizing the need for enhanced hydrological, meteorological, and climate services for dependent communities.
Meanwhile, global mean sea levels have doubled since 1993, reaching record highs in 2024. The rise has accelerated from 2.1 mm per year (1993–2002) to 4.7 mm per year (2015–2024), increasing the risks of coastal flooding and erosion. About 67% of Himalayan glaciers have already retreated, with some in Nepal receding by as much as 10 meters annually. This trend heightens the danger of glacial lake outburst floods, threatening downstream communities.
Nepal has been witnessing a sharp increase in extreme weather events—including landslides and floods—largely driven by climate change. In 2024 alone, such disasters inflicted major damage on infrastructure and displaced thousands of people. A particularly devastating case occurred in September 2024, when floods and landslides resulted in extensive loss of life, property, and environmental degradation. The disaster claimed 250 lives, left 18 people missing, and injured 178 others. Approximately 11,000 families were displaced, and over 17,000 individuals had to be rescued. The estimated economic loss totaled NPR 46.68 billion (approximately USD 340 million).
Sagarmatha Sambaad: main goal of Sagarmatha Sambaad is to forge...
The damage was widespread: more than 6,000 houses were destroyed or damaged; 41 road sections—including major highways like Mechi, BP, and Araniko—were affected; 44 bridges collapsed or were severely impaired; and 26 hydropower plants suffered disruptions. Telecom infrastructure was hit hard, with 446 units affected, while 1,639 water supply systems experienced significant damage to intakes, pipelines, tanks, and treatment facilities.
Environmentally, vast areas of farmland were inundated, and standing crops such as paddy and vegetables worth millions of rupees were washed away. Forests, shrubs, and trees were uprooted, particularly in deforested regions, revealing the ecological fragility of such landscapes. These events severely disrupted the natural ecosystem and exposed the growing vulnerabilities of both rural and urban areas in the face of escalating climate threats.
In high-altitude regions, farmers report falling crop yields due to erratic weather. For example, in Mustang district, apple production has failed to keep pace with expanding cultivation areas, with unexpected snowfall damaging the blossoms. Beyond economics, climate change is eroding the cultural identity of mountain communities, including traditional knowledge, rituals, and a profound sense of place. As environmental hazards worsen, increasing numbers of people are migrating from mountain villages in search of safer and more stable livelihoods.
Nepal is highly conscious of its carbon footprint and has made tremendous efforts to expand forest cover, which now stands at approximately 44 percent of the country's total area. Even though Nepal ranks among the lowest contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions, it faces some of the most severe risks from climate change. This has prompted the country to explore sustainable development paths that also enhance its climate resilience and leadership in international environmental advocacy.
A significant portion of Nepal’s electricity comes from hydropower, a clean and renewable energy source. However, the country has yet to fully capitalize on this by participating in global carbon markets. In a recent development, Nepal’s private sector has taken a step in this direction—through a partnership between the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal and the climate consultancy ProClime—to initiate carbon trading. The effort is expected to generate an estimated NPR 1 billion annually by selling renewable energy certificates internationally.
The central aim of the Sagarmatha Sambaad is to bring global attention to the escalating environmental threats confronting the Himalayan region. Countries like Nepal, along with other mountainous states, are grappling with accelerated glacial melting, rising incidents of climate-induced disasters, and a troubling decline in biodiversity—all aggravated by climate change. Through this high-level platform, Nepal is calling for stronger international solidarity to address these challenges and to mobilize necessary financial and technological resources for effective climate adaptation.
Given its high vulnerability, Nepal is already facing the brunt of climate impacts—ranging from declining snowfall, erratic rain patterns, prolonged drought, heat and cold waves, flash floods, forest fires, and landslides, among others, which has resulted in diminishing agricultural productivity. These issues mirror the struggles of other Himalayan countries in South Asia. The Nepalese leadership continues to stress that regional and international cooperation is no longer optional—it is an urgent necessity.
Seeing is believing. The government of Nepal, through the Sagarmatha Sambaad, has planned to provide first-hand view and knowledge on the snow-capped mountains gradually receiving dwindling snowfall to the participating high-level dignitaries through mountain flights on 18 May, the concluding day of the dialogue. This is expected to get renewed commitments from the participating countries to preserve the Himalayas, reverse the trend and protect the communities in the mountains and the coastal areas.
Climate justice is one of the core themes of the dialogue. Despite being low emitters, countries like Nepal are disproportionately affected by the carbon-intensive development of wealthier nations. Nepal is expected to make a strong case for fairer climate finance, deeper emission cuts by industrialized economies, and increased investments in resilience-building for vulnerable countries.
Nepal has already shifted its focus from fossil fuel to renewable clean energy. The government has urged its citizens to use electricity and has been expanding access to electricity. In 2024, Nepal imported more than 70% electric vehicles mainly from China. The forum will also advocate for greater funding in climate-resilient infrastructure and bolder commitments to green energy transitions and inclusive development.
By hosting this global conference, Nepal is stepping forward as an emerging voice in climate diplomacy. Recognizing the Himalayas as a frontline region for climate change, Nepal sees the Sagarmatha Sambaad as a critical space for building international momentum to confront this planetary crisis. Through the Sagarmatha Sambaad, the Government of Nepal seeks to establish the country as a prominent advocate for global climate action, highlighting the importance of climate justice and fair recognition for Nepal’s environmental stewardship.
The Sagarmatha Sambad is a multi-stakeholder dialogue forum created by the government of Nepal committed to deliberate on the most pertinent issues of global, regional and national significance. A platform for a broader discourse on sustainable development issues, it brings together people of all walks of life from a broader spectrum, wielding the stake, influence and capacity to shape and drive the discourse for positive changes.
