New York, Sept 26: Nepal has organised a high-level climate event titled “Sagarmatha to the Sea: A Call to Action for a Climate Resilient Future” at the United Nations headquarters in New York, seeking stronger global action on climate change.
Led by Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, the event was organised following the devastating Bhotekoshi flood and brought together senior representatives from Nepal, the United Nations and several countries. A short video on the Bhotekoshi disaster was also screened.
Addressing the event, Khanal said mountains, rivers, oceans, coastal areas and islands form an interconnected ecosystem and require coordinated climate action. He thanked co-hosts Bhutan, the Maldives, New Zealand, Samoa and Tajikistan, as well as UN agencies, UNEP and UNESCAP.
Referring to the August 26 disaster in the Langtang region, Khanal said a massive rock and glacial collapse caused extensive loss of life and infrastructure. Describing it as a “Himalayan tsunami,” he said the tragedy showed why urgent discussion was necessary.
Khanal said the “Sagarmatha to the Sea” concept recognises that climate systems do not respect political borders. The Himalayas, known as the “Third Pole,” contain more than 63,700 glaciers. Water originating from these glaciers feeds rivers, ecosystems and communities before reaching the sea. Nepal, he said, has lost about one-third of its snow and ice cover over the past three decades.
Glacial retreat is changing river flows and affecting downstream communities, while island and coastal nations face rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and displacement. “Mountains and oceans may appear far apart on a map, but nature tells us otherwise,” Khanal said.
He proposed five priorities: recognising the ecological connection between mountains, freshwater systems and oceans; giving mountains greater attention in global climate mechanisms; keeping the 1.5 degree Celsius warming target alive through faster emission cuts and transition from fossil fuels; strengthening early warning systems, resilient infrastructure and scientific cooperation; and ensuring adequate, predictable and accessible climate finance, technology and capacity building for developing countries.
Khanal said Nepal continues to contribute to climate mitigation, with about 46 per cent of its territory under forest cover, alongside expanding hydropower, electric transport and community-led conservation.
He said Nepal wants “Sagarmatha to the Sea” to develop into a platform for knowledge, partnership and practical cooperation, linking the fate of the Himalayas with communities and ecosystems downstream.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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