KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister and Nepali Congress leader Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has said that the recent Sagarmatha Dialogue held in early May succeeded in putting Nepal’s climate concerns on the global map despite limited preparation time.
Responding to lawmakers during the meeting of the House of Representatives’ International Relations and Tourism Committee on Tuesday, Minister Rana said the event was organized with just 72 days of preparation but still managed to initiate strong dialogue and engagement on Nepal’s key concerns related to climate change, the Himalayas, and the future of humanity.
The government hosted the Sagarmatha Sambaad from May 16 to 18 in Kathmandu with the participation of delegations from 12 countries and representatives from major international organizations. However, the event faced criticism for failing to attract heads of state and for allegedly being more symbolic than impactful.
Minister Rana defended the event, stating that although it did not feature top-level heads of state, it received recognition at a global level.
“We were able to highlight Nepal’s core issues such as climate change and loss and damage. Agencies including UNEP, the UN Secretary-General’s Office, ADB, and the Global Loss and Damage Fund engaged meaningfully,” she said.
In the committee meeting, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Shishir Khanal questioned the tangible outcomes of the event. “We conducted the Sagarmatha Sambaad. But what results have we achieved? Is there a follow-up mechanism? Was it just a ceremonial event?” he asked.
In response, Minister Rana said the event focused on research-based dialogue, brought global attention to Nepal’s climate vulnerabilities, and helped reinforce Nepal’s voice in multilateral forums.
“There was genuine, fact-based discussion and dialogue,” she said.
Rana added that the dialogue marked an important step in establishing Nepal’s leadership in global climate conversations, particularly concerning mountain ecosystems and vulnerable populations.
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