Solokhumbu- While addressing the "Summiters’ Summit" organized by the SathSathai Foundation in Thame, Solukhumbu, world-renowned American climate expert Charles Bedford emphasized the critical need to protect the mountains for future generations. Bedford, who is also the Chief Impact Officer and Founder at Carbon Growth Partners, shared his experience working in the fields of climate financing and global conservation stating, "It is time to find solutions ourselves, in our own communities, in our region and country." He further expressed that climate change is not just a scientific issue – it is also a political one.
“The discussions at the climate conference were interesting, and though there were some language barriers, I could genuinely feel the commitment and energy demonstrated by others.” Bedford shared. He further called for greater advocacy at the local and regional levels to create solutions, highlighting that the impact of climate change is far greater on the lives of women and marginalized poor communities. Referring to a speech delivered by the Minister of Defense, Bedford mentioned, “The Minister of Defense has rightly stated that ‘a stable climate guarantees true security, which is very impressive.”
He also noted that, as mentioned in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, Nepal has a great opportunity to generate billions of dollars from the carbon market. To this end, he suggested that the government should review existing tax policies and climate finance structures, eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, and establish a loss and damage fund. According to him, “Despite these complex measures, the experienced climbers of Thame understand very well that the journey begins with the first step. Now we must also start ours.”
Thame village and its communities, now actively advocating for climate justice, were recently impacted by devastation caused by a glacier outburst. Therefore, the conference aimed to draw the attention of national and international policymakers to the urgent need for post-disaster reconstruction and long-term climate justice. the context of the government's preparations to organize the Sagarmatha Sambaad The event organized by the SathSathai Foundation served as a precursor to the Sagarmatha Sambaad, a high-level regional climate dialogue organized by the Government of Nepal. The upcoming conference is expected to directly influence policymaking by amplifying the voices of Himalayan settlements.
