On the night of May 15, just a day before the Sagarmatha Sambaad climate dialogue began in Kathmandu, the remote district of Humla was struck by disaster. A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), suspected to have originated from the Kanji Himal, triggered landslides that devastated Tilguan.
This timing couldn’t have been more poignant. As leaders gathered in Kathmandu to discuss climate action under the theme “Climate Change, Mountains and Future of Humanity,” nature offered a chilling reminder of what’s at stake.
Nepal’s flagship climate diplomacy initiative, the Sagarmatha Sambaad, named after Mt. Everest, or Sagarmatha in Nepal, was envisioned as a platform for building global solidarity, fostering common understanding, and inspiring collective action on climate change issues.
This year’s edition brought together over 300 participants from Nepal and across continents: ministers, scientists, civil society leaders, and youth representatives. The event concluded with the 25-point “ Sagarmatha Call for Action.” Yet a full accounting of the Sambaad’s strengths and shortcomings is required to understand the significance of the dialogue as Nepal positions itself as a climate leader.
Strengths of the Sagarmatha Sambaad
Nepal, which is a land of intricate mountain ecosystems, is disproportionately affected by climate change and climate-related disasters despite its minimal contributions to global emissions. As Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba articulated, “As conscientious custodians of the rivers, forests, and mountains, we contribute more than our due share to the health of the planet. However, we are forced to face a heavy and disproportionate burden.”
The Sambaad offered Nepal a rare moral high ground. From COP29 President Mukhtar Babyev to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who appeared via video, the message was clear: the mountains are in peril, and the world must respond with urgency. Guterres also made this point in his visit to Nepal’s Everest and Annapurna Base Camp last year: “Stop the madness…we must act now to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to avert the worst of climate chaos. The world cannot wait.”
During the Sambaad, Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli asked a deeply human question: “Can humanity survive without its mountains?” He reminded the world that “from the Arctic to the Andes, from the Alps to the Himalayas, they are the earth’s water towers, and they are in danger.” This framing was powerful and symbolically resonant, especially coming from a nation that boasts the tallest mountain in the world.
On the final day, participants visited Vajra Academy, an eco-school in Kathmandu, where students performed a captivating “Eco-Ramayana.” This reimagining of the ancient epic emphasized nature as a sacred teacher, and urged harmony with wildlife.
Despite challenges, the event saw participation from high-level delegates of neighboring countries, encouraging regional cooperation on climate issues. Representatives from the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, also known as “Asia’s Water Tower,” gathered together to confront challenges no single country can tackle alone.
A highlight of the Sagarmatha Sambaad was the HKH Ministerial Meeting, centered around the theme “Collaboration and Cooperation beyond Borders.” Representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Pakistan acknowledged that glacial retreat, water insecurity, air pollution, and natural disasters recognize no boundaries. It was a rare moment of environmental unity in a geopolitically fragmented region.
The 25-point “Sagarmatha Call for Action” was among the Sambaad’s biggest achievements. It reaffirmed commitments to the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) while emphasizing mountain-specific concerns: establishing a dedicated climate fund for mountain countries, promoting inclusive climate actions, and enhancing access to climate finance for vulnerable nations.
By emphasizing the critical role of mountain ecosystems in ensuring water security, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods, the Sambaad positioned itself as a pivotal forum for amplifying the voices of mountain communities in global climate discourse.
Furthermore, the Call for Action underscored the importance of integrating traditional knowledge with scientific research, fostering global and regional partnerships, and promoting clean energy transitions. By bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders – from policymakers and scientists to indigenous communities – the Sagarmatha Sambaad demonstrated Nepal’s commitment to South-South climate leadership.
As Deuba, the foreign minister, said, “For the people of Nepal, the Himalayas are not only an embodiment of an ancient culture and heritage but are also a central pillar of our national pride and identity. ”
Criticisms and Challenges
While the Sagarmatha Call for Action is comprehensive, questions remain over its concrete implementation and monitoring. Nepal has a history of high-level environmental declarations with limited follow through, notably the 10-point “Everest Declaration” from a historic 2009 Cabinet meeting in Kalapattar near Mt. Everest.
As a small power with limited diplomatic leverage, Nepal’s role often focuses on urging developed nations to curb emissions and provide climate finance. Translating the Sambaad’s ambitions into tangible action will require robust national strategies, international partnerships, and clear pathways for accessing necessary funding, particularly for “loss and damage.” Without these, the “ Call for Action” risks becoming another aspirational document.
Yet despite the initiative’s importance, the absence of prime ministers or senior political leaders from major neighboring countries raised eyebrows – and questions about international buy-in. For a country that rarely hosts high-level multilateral events, Nepal missed an opportunity to elevate its diplomatic profile. The recent India-Pakistan skirmish underscored the continued dominance of geopolitical rifts over environmental cooperation in South Asia.
Nepal’s geopolitical balancing act between two powerful neighbors, India and China, was also subtly tested. Hosting multilateral events while preserving national identity and diplomatic neutrality remains a delicate art.
During the opening ceremony, China’s representative – Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Xiao Jie – repeatedly referred to Mt. Everest by its traditional Tibetan name, Chomolungma, despite the event being titled after its Nepali name, Sagarmatha. Though seemingly minor, this linguistic choice was diplomatically loaded. He used the Tibetan term ten times during a 20-minute speech.
Finally, although youth participation was part of the agenda, it felt more symbolic than central. In a dialogue centered on the future of humanity, the youth sessions ran in parallel rather than being integrated into the core themes.
During Theme 4 on Climate Justice and the Future of Humanity, there was a parallel session on “Unlocking Youth Potential on Science, Technology, and Innovation.” Youth climate activist Tashi Lhazom, who represents Tilguan, the site of the recent floods, said during the sessions that this lack of engagement was a significant concern for an event focused on the future of humanity.
However, the discussion that followed was productive. Most notably, youth climate activist Dikchhya Baral offered insightful remarks on the importance of youth participation and emphasized that youth activism in addressing climate change is making a meaningful impact at the grassroots level.
Conclusion
Nepal recently updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), demonstrating ambition aligned with the Sambaad’s vision. Yet ambition alone doesn’t sustain leadership. Without stronger diplomatic backing, actionable financing pathways, and long term regional trust-building, the Sagarmatha Call for Action risks joining the pill of well-intended yet toothless climate declarations. Still, this Sambaad told the world that protecting the mountains is not just about snow and peaks. It is about water, food, survival, and justice, safeguarding humanity’s future.
As the prime minister of Nepal rightly concluded, “To protect the mountains is to protect the planet and to protect humanity itself.” In an age of climate apathy and geopolitical gridlock, that’s a message worth amplifying.