2 July 2024, NIICE Commentary 9309
Ritesh Panthee

Germany recently hosted a climate change event titled “Mobilizing the Mountain Partnership countries for addressing climate change” in Bonn, Germany. Climate activists, policymakers, and leaders from Nepal have also participated. This sparked an idea: Nepal’s potential to organize similar international dialogue every year. 

Many countries host prestigious forums- India’s Raisina Dialogue, for instance, is a premier conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, where leaders from politics, industry, media, and civil society gather in New Delhi to discuss international affairs. They also explore possibilities for collaboration on a wide range of contemporary issues. Similarly, Nepal could benefit immensely from establishing a similar platform, the proposed “Sagarmatha Sambaad” (Everest Dialogue) which is crucial from both a national and foreign policy Standpoint.

Nepal and Climate Change

The susceptibility of Nepal to climate change is well known, and the Asian Development Bank has projected that by 2050, Nepal could suffer a 2.2% loss in GDP due to climate change. The National Statistics Office’s National Climate Survey revealed that climate change has resulted in significant economic losses for the country, totalling NPR 4,15,440,534,095 across all climate domains. The survey also highlighted that urban areas have experienced higher economic losses than rural areas. Furthermore, the report emphasized the profound impact of climate change on biodiversity, noting substantial changes in tree species, birds, wild animals, insects, and grass species.

The recent report about the “Impacts of Climate Crisis and Environmental Degradation on Children and Youths in Nepal” shows that intense rains, floods, and landslides have greatly affected the country resulting in numerous casualties, widespread destruction of crops and homes, and infrastructure damage. Additionally, in line with World Bank Country Climate and Development Report 2022, Nepal is projected to experience a 0.9 degree Celsius temperature rise between 2016 to 2045 under a moderate emission scenario. This will lead to more frequent floods and other extreme weather events as time goes by due to climate change. It states that people who are most vulnerable live in poverty, and remote areas, and depend on subsistence farming, face the highest level of risk.

Why Sagarmatha Sambaad?

Nepal is located in the Hindu Kush Himalayan Range, which spans 3,500 km across China, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Pakistan. The entire region’s glaciers are expected to lose 30 to 50% of their ice volume by 2050 according to the ICIMOD report. Being in a very delicate region, Nepal needs to get ready. Nepal must harness its diplomatic influence by hosting “Sagarmatha Sambaad”.

The Sagarmatha Sambaad was scheduled to take place in Nepal on April 2 and 4, 2020. The government, led by KP Oli, had planned this forum to discuss important global, regional, and national issues. PM Oli government allocated 50 million rupees to support the initiative and established the “Sagarmatha Sambaad Secretariat.” A 20-member organizing committee, headed by Foreign Minister Pradip Gyawali, was also established. A discussion on “Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity,” planned by the Foreign Ministry was scrapped due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Nepal extended invitations to several prominent leaders, including India’s PM Narendra Modi and then Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan, for a dialogue. Invitations were also sent to 20 other heads of the state and government. However, the event had to be postponed due to the pandemic and political turbulence. Originally, Nepal planned to invite 150 distinguished experts, media professionals, and celebrities from 40 countries, along with 50 local participants. Unfortunately, these plans fell through due to a change in government.

On March 19, 2024, the new coalition government outlined its goals, including the plan to reschedule the summit. However, the recent budget for 2081/82 omits any mention of Sagarmatha Sambaad or Professor Yadunath Khanal’s lecture series, both of which were parts of the previous year’s budget. This omission suggests that the government may not be focusing on organizing this dialogue.

Nepal’s Foreign Policy 2077 emphasizes the importance of environmental balance, human welfare, and planetary protection. The county aims to actively address climate change challenges and its adverse effects. This includes leading efforts to bring together nations facing significant environmental risks, with initiatives like the Everest Dialogue playing a crucial role in putting these policies into action.

The Sagarmatha Sambaad can bring together world leaders, experts, and dignitaries to highlight the urgent need to address climate change, with a special focus on the Himalayas, case studies, and expert insights. This type of dialogue is crucial for drawing global attention, fostering international support, and finding solutions for the region. However, the budget allocation of 6 Arba 77 crore to the MoFA seems inadequate given the ministry’s crucial role in organizing such dialogues and supporting our embassies abroad. A large portion of this budget is reserved for paying official’s salaries, leaving limited resources for other essential functions. Investing more in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) can only support the Foreign Policy goal.

In conclusion, Nepal has been actively engaging with the global community on combating climate change, a topic that was also discussed during UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s visit to Nepal. Guterres pointed out Nepal’s potential to lead on this critical issue. Therefore, initiatives like the Sagarmatha Sambaad are not just important for Nepal but also hold significant value for the World.

Ritesh Panthee is a Law Undergraduate Scholar from the Tribhuvan University, Nepal.