Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba closed the first ever environment conference, called 'the Sagarmatha Sambaad,' saying it was successful and critical in voicing concerns about the issues impacting everything from climate change to the mountains to the islands. First-ever Skywell Pilot Summit to be held in Nepal Nvidia plans to manufacture AI chips in the US for the first time The flagship conference by the government, which opened on Friday, discussed global climate change, including the impact on the highest Himalayan peaks, where snow and ice are melting. Nepal is home to eight of the world's tallest mountains, including Mount Everest. The rapid melting of glaciers in the Himalayan mountains as a result of global warming has raised serious concerns. Melting snow and ice have exposed the mountains, raising the possibility of rock slides, landslides, and avalanches. Scientists have warned that the Himalayan mountains may lose up to 80 per cent of their glaciers if the Earth warms in the coming decades or centuries. They predict that flash floods and avalanches will become more common in the coming years, owing in part to climate change. The three-day conference in Kathmandu titled 'Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity' included discussions of critical climate issues. Rana concluded the session by stating, "This edition of the Sagarmatha Sambaad brought together the voices of leaders, policymakers, experts, scholars, youth, civil society, international organisations, and the community from the high mountains to the island nations in the spirit of genuine dialogue." She emphasised that the topics and suggestions discussed would be raised at various international forums, such as the glacier conservation conference in Tajikistan at the end of this month, the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and the UN climate change conference COP-30, which will be held in Brazil this year. Meanwhile, recognising the critical role of mountains in ensuring water security and maintaining climate-resilient agriculture and food security, clean energy, nature-based tourism, and effective governance in driving transformation towards a sustainable mountain economy, the Sambaad declared 25 action points. Reaffirm the urgency to hold the increase in the global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by accelerating mitigation actions, building adaptive capacity and resilience, addressing loss and damage, and strengthening partnerships to ensure a sustainable future for all. Encourage countries to set ambitious emissions reduction targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0 to keep 1.5°C alive, aligned with the latest science that calls for urgent and transformative global action. Further encourage countries to develop and implement National Adaptation Plans to respond to country-specific adaptation needs. Call for enhanced provision and mobilisation of international financial support, particularly through grants and concessional financing for implementation of climate actions in developing countries, including countries in special situations. Encourage collective efforts to ensure equitable and simplified access for the developing countries, particularly those vulnerable to climate change, to the international climate finance from bilateral, multilateral and alternative sources, including the operating entities of the Financial Mechanisms and the Funds under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. Support the call for the establishment of a dedicated fund for the development of mountain countries to mobilise targeted financial resources for climate action and sustainable development in mountainous regions. Prioritise the recognition, respect, and rewarding of mountain ecosystem services through leveraging existing and innovative financing sources. Emphasise the role of private sector finance and carbon markets in scaling up sustainable climate actions. Strengthen global and regional partnerships to facilitate access to climate-friendly technologies and enhance capacity building. Reaffirm the need for collaboration among the policymakers, scientific institutions, private sector and other relevant stakeholders to drive innovation and mutual learning to formulate appropriate policies and programs that address the inherent vulnerabilities to climate change. Acknowledge the importance of promoting green, resilient and inclusive development, ranging from small to large-scale infrastructures, in both rural and urban communities, as appropriate. Stress the significance of clean energy, energy efficiency and just energy transitions, recognising the importance of powering the future through clean energy as well as green, circular and bio-economies. Promote science, technology and innovation-based solutions for addressing climate-induced disasters and conserving glaciers, water resources, forests and agricultural systems. Encourage dialogues on mountains and the climate change agenda with a special focus on the triple planetary crisis and short-lived climate forcers, given their profound impact on regional climate, monsoons, cryosphere and public health. Recognise the urgency of strengthening data systems, ensuring data sharing and interoperability, and developing climate attribution and early warning mechanisms tailored to the needs of developing countries. Underscore the need to establish a robust linkage between mountain- and ocean-specific risk assessment, monitoring, and early warning systems using advanced science, technology, and innovation. Promote climate justice across all climate actions by ensuring fair, inclusive and evidence-based solutions for the developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. Foster inclusive climate actions through active participation of children, youth, women, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens, and maintain gender balance while upholding intra- and intergenerational equity. Call to initiate the creation of a multi-stakeholder international platform on mountain and climate change for dialogue, innovation and empowerment, with the aim of amplifying the voices of mountain communities in global climate processes. Recognise the role of local and indigenous communities in climate policies, programmes and actions, including adaptation and conservation initiatives. Emphasise the need to develop mechanisms for payment of environmental services, enabling them to adopt innovative climate financing. Emphasise the need for developing knowledge centres, sharing best practices, and enhancing the roles of local communities in climate policies, programmes and actions. Resolve to forge a common voice for urgent climate action that resonates from the Sagarmatha to the seas and from highlands to islands. Acknowledge the relevance of the theme of the first edition of the Sagarmatha Sambaad in highlighting the adverse impacts of climate change from mountains to lowlands; forging common understanding and actions to uplift communities in vulnerable situations; and reaffirming commitment to continue working for a just, resilient and sustainable future for all. Express appreciation to all the dignitaries and delegates for attending the Sagarmatha Sambaad, a permanent forum to foster global dialogue on key issues of national, regional and global significance, and look forward to its continuity ahead.