Preparation for Sagarmatha Sambaad nears completion

Kathmandu, May 13: Preparation for the first-ever ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’ or Sagarmatha Dialogue, set to take place in Kathmandu from coming May 16-18, is in its final stage.

The organizer said that all logistics and technical arrangements have been completed to meet the international standards and to make the event a success.

The Government of Nepal is going to organize the event themed ‘Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity’ at Soaltee Hotel in Kathmandu.

The high-level dialogue forum named after the highest mountain of the world- Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) that Nepal is home to, aims to address the pressing global environmental concerns and challenges, particularly the climate change adversely affecting the mountainous regions and vulnerable communities.

The event, decided to be held every two years hereafter, is going to bring together 140 foreign delegates from 40 countries.

Participants include ministers, high-ranking government officials, diplomats, representatives of donor agencies, climate change experts and environmentalists as well as development actors and leaders from various sectors who will seek to forge regional and international cooperation for unified response towards global climate crisis.

Over 400 national and international participants are scheduled to engage in one high-level plenary session, 12 parallel sessions and some side events during the event.

Lok Bahadur Paudel Chettri, Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as Coordinator of the Publicity Committee formed for the event, shared that one of the major objectives of the upcoming event is to provide a suitable platform for multi-stakeholder, inter-regional global dialogue in Nepal on pressing contemporary issues facing the world.

The event will highlight the vulnerability of mountains and local communities in mountainous regions to climate change thereby advocating for climate action and climate justice, added Dr Maheshwor Dhakal, Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment, who is also the member-secretary of the Secretariat formed to manage the event.

A mountain flight has been arranged for the participants on the third day to highlight the vulnerability of mountains to climate change, according to the organizer.

Furthermore, the Kathmandu Declaration will be issued on the closing day with a pledge for climate actions, it was informed.

The event is expected to be an important milestone for Nepal to showcase Nepal’s conservation efforts and success.
Participants will emphasize discussions on impact of climate change; from Himalayas to sea, sustainable green economy, climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction, climate justice and future of humanity and regional and global partnership to tackle the global climate crisis, it was shared.

The conclusions drawn from the dialogue and discussions will be incorporated in policy-making for climate actions, mentioned Dr Dhakal.