On International Women's Day, twenty-six Nepali women activists, including a beauty pageant winner, trekked to the base camp of Mt Everest to spotlight the alarming consequences of melting snow in the Himalayas due to climate change and its detrimental effects on local communities.
Arriving at the base camp, nestled at an altitude of 5,364 meters, the group commemorated the 114th International Women's Day while aiming to raise awareness about the urgent challenges posed by climate change.
Organised by the Sath Sathai Foundation, an organization dedicated to advocating for climate change awareness and women's empowerment, the event featured a conference at the base camp, accompanied by the issuance of a comprehensive seven-point declaration.
The declaration emphasised the need for both central and local governments to prioritize the conservation of Mt Everest, the Khumbu mountain region, and other Himalayan ranges.
It called for concerted efforts in climate justice, adaptation, and risk reduction, in addition to fostering national and international partnerships.
Further, the declaration addressed crucial issues such as women's participation, the promotion of tourism in the Himalayan region, pollution control, and related environmental concerns.
Prajeeta Karki, president of Sath Sathai, stressed the imperative of advocating for nature's justice, asserting that the preservation of nature is essential for the survival of all living beings.
Renu Devi Sah, another activist and member of the Madheshi Commission, highlighted the direct impact of climate change on livelihoods and agricultural systems in Nepal's Madhesh region. She called for collective efforts to mitigate these risks.
Among the participants was Miss Nepal Srichchha Pradhan.
The women's team embarked on their journey from Kathmandu to the Mt Everest base camp on February 29, aiming to draw global attention to the pressing issue of melting snow as a consequence of climate change and its adverse effects on local communities.
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