Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called for the adoption of an integrated 'Mountain to Sea' approach in climate action, recognizing the inherent connections within this ecosystem.
"Their coverage should span from Everest to the Indian Ocean, from the Pamirs to the Pacific, and from the Andes to the Atlantic, recognizing environmental and ecological inter-linkages," Oli stated.
In his address at the High-Level Plenary Meeting of the 79th UN General Assembly (UNGA) on the theme "Addressing the Threats Posed by Sea Level Rise" earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Oli emphasized the need for bold and decisive actions to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5°C. "This is not just a number—it is the threshold for survival," he said.
Oli highlighted that even a 1.5°C rise is too much for the Himalayas, as the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) points out. Elevation-dependent warming amplifies the impacts, equating to a 2°C increase. The Himalayas and other high mountains act as natural refrigerators, cooling the air that passes through them and recharging river systems downstream.
Calling for collective global efforts to combat rising sea levels, build resilience, and adapt to changes, Oli stressed the importance of controlling pollutants that create acidic clouds and other harmful effects. He warned that pristine glaciers are turning into repositories of various contaminants. "Most importantly, we must deliver climate justice. Wealthy nations must lead the way in supporting vulnerable countries," he urged.
Prime Minister Oli also called on the UN General Assembly to convene a high-level meeting next year, focusing on the existential threats posed by climate change to both mountain nations and island states.
"As global warming threatens ecosystems from mountains to seas, nations like Nepal and coastal states, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS), will become conjoined victims," he said. "For SIDS and other coastal nations, there is a direct threat to their existence, as by 2100, coastal regions are likely to be submerged by nearly two and a half meters of seawater."
Representing the nation of Mt. Everest and the mighty Himalayas, also known as the 'Third Pole,' Oli proposed starting deliberations by considering the long chain of events—melting ice and glaciers in mountains and polar regions that eventually lead to sea level rise (SLR).
"Our efforts to prevent SLR are integral to stopping the alarming loss of ice and snow from mountains, as well as preventing avalanches and glacial lake outbursts," he added.
Oli presented a set of sobering figures to illustrate the mountain-to-sea ecosystem, including the contribution of glacier melt to rising sea levels, the amount of ice Nepal has lost over three decades, and the projected loss of Himalayan glaciers by 2100 under current emission levels.
"For the billions of people dependent on snow and ice-fed rivers, this will mean the drying up of their lifeblood and the eventual collapse of river-based civilizations," Oli cautioned. "When two-thirds of the Himalayan glaciers are gone, at least 10 river systems across Asia will also dry up."
In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Oli called for an end to the reckless burning of fossil fuels in the name of development, urging action to save the planet for future generations. -- RSS