Kathmandu. BYN BLACKYAK formally unveiled the ‘Himalayan Climate Charter 2025′ at a special ceremony in Kathmandu, acknowledging the increasing effects of climate change on mankind and urging immediate international attention and coordinated action to protect the Himalayas’ future. To bring together specialists, policymakers, media representatives, and the climbing community, the ‘Summit for Earth’ was organised in partnership with the Nepal climbing Association (NMA), Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, and the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC).

Participating organisations at today’s Summit for Earth jointly signed the “Himalayan Climate Charter 2025,” a declaration that outlines fundamental values and strategic initiatives to advance climate justice, and voiced their profound worry over the worsening climate disaster in the Himalayas.
The proclamation highlights the local knowledge of Himalayan people as well as international initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. In order to unite tradition and innovation, it advocates for elevating the voices of Sherpas and Icefall Doctors while incorporating contemporary instruments like drones and satellite technology.

Together with the three co-hosting organisations, BLACKYAK pledged to take immediate climate action, continue clean-up efforts in the Himalayas, collaborate technologically and locally, disclose environmental data transparently, elevate the voices of those fighting climate change, and fortify international alliances and solidarity.

Kang Tae Sun, the chairperson of BLACKYAK, opened the meeting by considering the environmental changes that are occurring all over the world. He described how he was profoundly affected by the sight of still turtles on the beaches of Jeju Island, his native South Korea, and how it made him realise how vital it is to confront the effects of climate change on people.

According to Kang Tae Sun, “The climate crisis here has become a shared concern for all of humanity, just as the Himalayas’ silent warning tells us that changes that begin at the highest point will inevitably reach the lowest.” This proclamation is a united call to action for climate justice, not just a list of pledges. Our goal is for this message to inspire significant change on a worldwide scale. Through this voyage, BLACKYAK, which has a strong connection to the Himalayas, will remain united.

Ang Tshering Sherpa, a member of the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) and the Chief Advisor of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), highlighted the catastrophic effects of climate change in Nepal, including floods, biodiversity loss, glacial melting, and other calamities. Migma Sherpa, the chairperson of the Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, stressed that a set percentage of the royalties received from mountaineers should be set aside expressly for Himalayan cleanup efforts rather than depending only on government support.

The moderator of the panel discussion on “Climate Change in the Himalayas,” Tshering Sherpa, CEO of the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), began by questioning Dr Maheshwor Dhakal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment, about whether the opinions of Himalayan communities were represented at the policy level during the just finished Sagarmatha Sambad.

“Glacier melt is the gateway to all cascading effects downstream,” Dr. Dhakal responded. Saving the mountains must be our first priority if we wish to rescue the earth. He went on to say that the Himalayas, their inhabitants, and the quickly melting glaciers are still at the centre of the 25-point Sagarmatha Call for Action proclamation. Dr. Dhakal continued, “I have been lobbying for climate change to be addressed alongside biodiversity loss,” highlighting the interdependence of climatic issues in the Himalayan region. Additionally, he stressed the circular economy and guaranteed that at least 80% of the Green Climate Fund and other climate-related financial resources would reach the local populations most impacted by climate change.

Similarly, Associate Professor Dr. Pasang Yanji Sherpa of the University of British Columbia in Canada was hopeful that the Local Adaptation Plans of Action (LAPA) framework, which was introduced in 2012 and 2013 to assist communities in adapting to the effects of climate change, would be fully implemented. “As a member of the scientific advisory community of the IPCC, I would advise the IPCC Chair on how to engage with multiple knowledge systems, including indigenous and scientific perspectives,” she stated.

“The glacial lakes that are suffering the most are the smaller ones, not the bigger ones. Sherpa pointed out that Yak herders are on the front lines and are suffering the most from climate change. “The growing frequency of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) is a serious worry of mine. Is our readiness to confront them sufficient? That is the true question. “We must be concerned not only about food security but also about spiritual well-being in the context of our rapidly changing climate,” stressed Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal. Given its vital role in the Himalayan ecology, he emphasised the necessity of regularly monitoring the development of permafrost in the glacier zones.

In his remarks on the value of citizen science, Dr. Dhiraj Pradhananga, Head of the Department of Meteorology at Tribhuvan University’s Tri-Chandra Multiple Campus, emphasised the dearth of public knowledge and localised monitoring. “There is an urgent need for proper data science integration, community engagement, and education among local populations,” he stated. In order to increase resilience in the face of climate change, he also urged the next generation to study glaciers, socioeconomic effects, and food security.

Similarly, ICIMOD Director General Dr. Pema Gyamtsho stressed the significance of evidence-based policymaking. “We work in close collaboration with stakeholders to collect scientific data, which we present at international conferences to influence policy and translate knowledge into action,” he said, referring to ICIMOD’s research initiatives. He added that “climate change is not a challenge any single country can address alone-it requires transboundary collaboration across the Hindu Kush Himalayan region.” Dr. Gyamtsho emphasised the necessity of coordinated mitigation efforts, focussing especially on the connections between nations upstream and downstream. “Regional cooperation is essential to tackle the transboundary nature of climate impacts,” he stated.

Badri Prasad Pandey, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, expressed profound concern over the worsening climate issue and emphasised the need for coordinated effort to protect the Himalayas, calling them the “Heart of the Earth” and essential to human survival. Minister Pandey added that the government’s Clean Mountain Strategy 2082, which emphasises trash management, environmental preservation, and the encouragement of responsible tourism, is nearing completion.