KATHMANDU: Nepal is hosting a leading international climate dialogue, ‘Sagarmatha Sambaad’, in Kathmandu, drawing attention to the urgent climate challenges facing mountain and island nations.
The three-day conference, running from May 16 to 18, will be officially inaugurated by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, according to Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana.
The dialogue, themed “Climate Change: Mountains and the Future of Humanity,” will host around 175 foreign delegates and 350 total participants, including lawmakers, ministers, and climate specialists from various countries.
The forum aims to strengthen both regional and global cooperation on climate issues, especially in relation to vulnerable mountainous ecosystems.
High-level participants will take part in 12 thematic sessions, which will address a wide range of critical issues such as keeping global warming below 1.5°C, economic sustainability in mountain regions, climate-induced damage in island states, and promoting inclusivity in climate policy across generations and genders.
Delegates are also scheduled to hold courtesy meetings with PM Oli and engage in sideline discussions with Nepali officials.
Prominent international speakers include representatives from China and India, as well as a special climate envoy from the President of Azerbaijan, which will chair COP29 later this year.
Sagarmatha Sambad, which was first conceptualized in 2019 but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, draws inspiration from global summits like the World Economic Forum in Davos and India’s Raisina Dialogue.
Nepal’s goal through this initiative is to build a global coalition for decisive climate action, particularly to protect fragile mountain regions and at-risk communities worldwide.
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