Nirvana Chaudhary, managing director of Chaudhary Group, participated in the 54th World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland, on January 15-19.

Chaudhary, who became the first private sector representative to speak at the WEF, raised the climate change issues in the Himalayas and urged support for its mitigation.

Annually, international business and political leaders gather at the WEF's annual meeting to discuss global politics, economics, and social issues.

Addressing a panel on climate change action in Alpine Economies at the WEF, Chaudhary emphasised Nepal’s vital role as a source of Himalaya’s water, which plays a crucial role in supplying water to millions of people, also called the “water towers” of Asia.

He said that the negative impact of climate change is becoming a challenge, and countries around the world need to join hands to mitigate its impacts.

He said that developed countries should play a key role in minimising the impact of climate change. For this, a common agenda and coordination is needed, he said.

“We are facing the impact of climate change daily. Growing up in Kathmandu, I used to see snow all over the northern part of the Valley till a few years ago. The snow that I have seen in my childhood has been declining. It makes me anxious,” he said.