KATHMANDU: Qatari Princess Asma Al Thani has voiced grave concern over the deteriorating snow cover in the Himalayas, calling it a global crisis that demands urgent international cooperation.
Speaking at the Summiteer’s Summit held in Thame village near Mt Everest, Princess Al Thani said the mountains now appear “lifeless” compared to her 2019 expedition to the world’s tallest peak.
The event, organized by Sathsathai to mark International Earth Day on April 22, brought together climbers, environmentalists, and community leaders to discuss the impacts of climate change in the Himalayan region.
“I climbed Everest in 2019 and was exhilarated by its beauty and vitality,” said the princess. “But now, I return to find bare rocks where snow once lay, blackened cliffs, and a silence that speaks of loss. There is no life in these mountains anymore.”
Highlighting the 2023 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) that devastated the Thame region—displacing families, damaging infrastructure, and cutting off roads—Princess Al Thani emphasized that such disasters are not isolated but part of a “man-made emergency” caused by global warming.
“These are not issues Nepal can or should bear alone,” she stressed, urging the global community to act in solidarity.
She also called for the urgent installation of early warning systems to help prevent climate-induced disasters like floods, landslides, and avalanches in fragile mountain settlements.
Local climbers echoed her concerns. “Everest is no longer the white peak we remember from photos,” said one participant. “It’s a fragile mountain now, and it needs protection, not just admiration.”
Princess Al Thani emphasized that Sagarmatha (Everest) is a shared natural heritage, stating: “Climbers like us don’t just think of it as a trophy. We have a duty to protect it. If we fail, Everest will remain only in photographs for future generations.”
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s message to the summit was also unveiled, expressing hope that the conference would aid informal preparations for the upcoming Sagarmatha Sambaad to be held from May 16–18. He underlined the need to raise awareness about environmental threats facing the Himalayas.
The summit concluded with a unified call from government representatives, NGOs, and mountaineers for global cooperation to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. As noted during the event, the temperature in the Everest region is rising with every passing decade, accelerating glacial melt and endangering mountain communities.
Princess Al Thani closed with a heartfelt warning: “We will lose the future of the Earth if there is no snow in the mountains. Saving Sagarmatha is a shared responsibility.”
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