Climate change threatens Himalayas, Experts warn on international Everest Day

Kathmandu- Speakers at a special event marking the 73rd International Everest Day on Friday warned that climate change is posing serious risks to the Himalayan region and stressed that protecting the mountains should be treated as a global responsibility.

The program, jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Nepal Tourism Board, and the Department of Tourism, focused on the growing environmental challenges facing the Himalayas and the need for sustainable mountain tourism.Addressing the event, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadga Raj Poudel said Mount Everest is not simply a peak to conquer but a symbol of human courage, spirituality, and inspiration.

“Everest is not something to be conquered; it is something to be experienced,” Poudel said. “The Himalayas are not only Nepal’s heritage but the shared property of the entire world. Without protecting the mountains, humanity itself cannot remain safe.”He warned that rising global temperatures are accelerating the melting of snow and glaciers in the Himalayas, threatening ecosystems and human life across the globe.

“Everest and other mountains are at risk. Human awareness must rise even higher than the mountains themselves,” he added.Ministry Secretary Mukunda Prasad Niraula also emphasized the urgent need for mountain conservation, saying the impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly visible in the Himalayan region.“Climate change is intensifying rapidly, and protecting the Himalayas has become today’s necessity,” Niraula said.Nepal Mountaineering Association President Phur Geljen Sherpa highlighted the role of the private sector in promoting Nepal’s mountain tourism and called for tourism laws that support private investment and participation.

“The government alone cannot achieve success without cooperation from the private sector,” Sherpa said.During the event, Department of Tourism Director General Ram Krishna Lamichhane revealed that seven people, including foreign climbers and Nepali Sherpa guides, died during this year’s spring climbing season on Everest and other mountains. He added that several climbers are still receiving treatment in Nepal and abroad.

Lamichhane said International Everest Day should also serve as an opportunity to promote research, innovation, and better management in mountain tourism.The event honored several individuals for their contributions to mountaineering, rescue operations, research, and Himalayan tourism.

Pasang Dawa Sherpa, who has climbed Everest 31 times, received the International Everest Award. Helicopter pilot Priya Adhikari was honored with the Tenzing-Hillary Search and Rescue Award, while Tenzing David Sherpa received the Tenzing-Hillary Record Climber Award. Purnima Shrestha was awarded the Pema Doma Women Climber Award.

Geographer Prof. Dr. Bishal Nath Upreti was also recognized for his contribution to Himalayan studies and research.The event additionally praised the efforts of the Khumbu Icefall “Icefall Doctors,” rope-fixing teams on Everest and Lhotse, and liaison officers working in the Everest region.

This year’s International Everest Day was celebrated under the slogan “Everest: Identity and Pride,” with a strong focus on sustainable mountain tourism, Himalayan conservation, and preserving mountain culture.
Photo : Subash Thapa