Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced that the upcoming Sagarmatha Sambaad, scheduled for May 2025, will focus on critical global and regional topics, with an emphasis on climate change, mountains, and the future of humankind. Speaking at a government-organized event, the Prime Minister declared the theme of the first edition as "Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Mankind," aligning with Nepal’s commitment to global cooperation and understanding.

The multi-stakeholder international dialogue forum, inspired by shared human welfare and common interests, will also express solidarity with the UN-designated International Year of Glaciers' Preservation (IYGP). PM Oli emphasized the importance of preserving glaciers and raising awareness about the snow-capped Himalayas, which are crucial natural resources under severe threat from climate change.

PM Oli criticized industrialized nations for becoming prosperous at the expense of nature, contributing significantly to global climate change. He highlighted that unsustainable patterns of consumption and production have led to erratic climatic conditions, causing disasters that claim lives and hinder development.

The Prime Minister underscored the need for collective contemplation and shared reflection to tackle today’s global challenges. He noted that the Sagarmatha Sambaad will serve as a platform for sharing Nepal’s success stories, showcasing its historical and geographical uniqueness, and contributing to the global dialogue on climate change, migration, and sustainable development.

PM Oli also drew attention to the visible impacts of climate change in Nepal, such as the rapid depletion of ice coverage in the Himalayas and incidents like glacier lake outburst floods in the Everest region and post-monsoon flooding in the Bagmati Province. He remarked that these natural emergencies have become increasingly routine, posing threats to the survival and progress of Nepal as a mountainous country.

Despite Nepal’s minimal carbon footprint, the country is experiencing devastating climate impacts. However, PM Oli reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2045 through efforts such as forest expansion, clean energy promotion, and biodiversity preservation. He stressed that while Nepal is doing its part, it cannot compensate for the historical complacency of those responsible for the climate crisis.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister called for global collaboration to forge a sustainable and equitable future, emphasizing resilience against the "poly-crisis" of climate change and its cascading effects.