SPCC Launches GLOF Resilience Project in Khumbu with Inception Workshop in Kathmandu

Kathmandu — In a key move toward enhancing climate resilience in Nepal’s high mountain communities, the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) launched the project “Early Warning and Community-Based Emergency Response Preparedness for GLOF Resilience in Thame and Downstream Villages” during an inception workshop in Kathmandu. Backed by the American Himalayan Foundation and implemented in partnership with Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality and the Cryospheric Society of Nepal, the initiative aims to protect vulnerable settlements in the Everest region from future glacial lake outburst floods through early warning systems, targeted community training, and inclusive disaster preparedness planning.

Reflecting on the GLOF that struck Thame village on August 16, 2024—causing widespread damage to homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods—SPCC’s CEO Tshering Sherpa showcased a potent video of the aftermath. ICIMOD’s Tenzing Chogyal explained the geophysical causes and escalating risks driven by cryospheric change, while SPCC Program Coordinator Pasang Ngima Sherpa outlined plans to form Community Response Teams, conduct localized training, and map evacuation routes, in close consultation with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

Cryospheric Society of Nepal introduced technical components including automatic weather stations, hydrological sensors, sirens, and SMS-based alert systems. Experts emphasized integration of gender equality and social inclusion, advanced monitoring tools, and alignment with Nepal’s adaptation policies. Hon. Sonam Gyalzen Sherpa, Member of Parliament, praised SPCC’s local leadership and underscored the importance of sustained collaboration among communities, NGOs, and government.

This initiative, launched on July 30, exemplifies a locally driven, scientifically informed, and socially inclusive model of climate resilience in fragile mountain landscapes.