Katmandu, Nepal (AP) – A environment conference was opened in Nepal on Friday to discuss global climate change, including the influence on the highest Himalayan peaks where snow and ice melts.
The conference is expected to include for a period of three days in Kathmandu entitled “Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity”, discussions on critical climate issues.
“From the bosom of Sagarmatha (Everst), the highest peak in the world, we send this message out loud and clear that the protection of mountains is the protection of the planet. To protect mountains is our seas. To protect mountains is the protection of humanity itself.”
Nepal is home to eight of the world’s longest mountains, including Mount Everest. A high level of ice escapes in the Himalayas due to the global warming phenomenon has sparked painful concerns. Snow and ice melted mountains and increased the danger of rock slices, landslides and snows.
Scientists have warned that the Himalayas might lose up to 80 % of the icebergs if the Earth rises in the coming decades or centuries. They say that flash floods and ice collapses can become more likely in the coming years, partly due to climate change.
“The tragedy is that Himalayas faces an unprecedented test in the actual time today, and they not only offer the fragile nature of our mountainous ecosystems, but also stark evidence that there is no meaningful global climate work.” “As a mountainous country with poor high disasters risk, Nepal faces a flagrant predicament.”
Duba said that Nepal witnessed a series of harsh weather events in the recent past with the devastating effects of people and their livelihoods.
“Floods and ice explosions have caused widespread destruction and damage,” she said.
Ministers from neighboring India, Buttan and Maldives attend the conference.
The organizers said that they intend to publish the Kathmandu Declaration after the ends of the discussions on Sunday.
