United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has visited the Annapurna Base Camp. As per the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he personally witnessed the repercussions of climate change at this location and engaged in discussions with the local community.
The Ministry has highlighted Secretary-General Guterres's remarks, in which he emphasized Nepal's minimal contribution to climate change while suffering its profound consequences. In a tweet, the Ministry reported, "UNSG @antonioguterres visited the Annapurna Base Camp this morning and observed another instance of climate change impact. The SG delivered important message on climate change and its negative impacts on Nepal despite its negligible contribution to it."
Previously, Secretary-General Guterres visited Syangboche in Solukhumbu on Monday and conveyed the devastating impact of climate change in Nepal. He expressed, "I have come to Nepal to send a global message. A two-stage perilous scenario is unfolding with regard to climate change. The initial phase concerns the narrative of glaciers and ice melting. Pronounced warming leads to substantial glacier thaw. Over the past 30 years, Nepal has lost nearly one-third of its ice (snow)."
Highlighting the escalating crisis, he further elaborated that the second phase of this tragedy would be even more severe. Secretary-General Guterres articulated, "The Himalayas act as reservoirs of ice, supplying fresh water to over a billion people. As they diminish, so do the rivers. We must now make an earnest effort to protect those on the frontlines. Endeavors must be undertaken to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to avert the most severe consequences of climate change. The world cann't wait."
