KATHMANDU: Preparations for the first-ever Sagarmatha Sambaad, a high-level international conference organized by the Government of Nepal, are in the final stage.
Scheduled for May 16 to 18 in Kathmandu, the dialogue forum will focus on “Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity.” The government plans to hold the dialogue biennially.
The dialogue, named after Mount Everest (Sagarmatha), aims to provide a multi-stakeholder platform for global, regional, and national discussions on urgent contemporary issues, especially climate change.
Over 150 foreign guests from nearly 40 countries—including ministers, experts, diplomats, and heads of agencies—are expected to attend alongside about 400 national and international participants.
Key sessions will include a high-level opening, plenary discussions, 12 parallel sessions, and side events. A mountain flight showcasing the Himalayas and the release of the Kathmandu Declaration are planned for the final day.
The event is being organized under a high-level steering committee chaired by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, with Foreign Minister Dr. Arju Rana Deuba heading the management committee. The dialogue is being hosted at The Soaltee Hotel, and all arrangements have been made to meet international standards.
According to officials, the dialogue will highlight Nepal’s conservation efforts, promote climate justice, and raise awareness on the impacts of climate change from the Himalayas to the seas, in the context of the UN’s declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Conservation.
The government hopes the outcomes of the Sagarmatha Sambaad will inform policy formulation and enhance Nepal’s role in global climate discourse despite its minimal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
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