The Sagarmatha Sambaad continues to take up various facets of the climate crisis that the world is confronting and discusses how indigenous and local knowledge and science can work together to mitigate the crisis.

Experts, academicians, officials, local government leaders and stakeholders spoke on Saturday during eight parallel sessions. The first edition of the Sambaad that kicked off on Friday took up issues related to the climate crisis on the theme “Climate change, mountains and the future of humanity”.

Achim Stenier, administrator at the United Nations Development Programme, sent a video message where he hailed the Sambaad, and reiterated the urgent global call for mitigation and adaptation.

He highlighted how UNDP is supporting 45 mountain countries including Nepal in mitigation and adaptation measures.

“Glaciers face the threat of bursting. We are supporting Nepal with the early warning system,” he said, praising the country for pushing the agenda of mountain countries.

Yubraj Khatiwada, former finance minister and economic adviser to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, highlighted the magnitude of the climate crisis and stressed on climate justice. Chairing a roundtable conference, he raised the issue of climate financing to help countries affected by the climate crisis.

Norwegian politician and diplomat Erik Solheim highlighted how India and China are moving towards installing solar energy and asked nations to follow their path.

Sheikha Asma Al Thani of Qatar, who recently climbed Mt Everest, shared her experience and highlighted the impact of a changing climate on the Everest region.

Chanrda Prasad Dhakal, chairman of the FNCCI, the umbrella organisation of the Nepali business community, called on the private sector to seek climate financing from investors.

Likewise, speaking during the session “Bridging science and technology for mountain resilience”, Mahdav Karki, who served several institutions in various capacities and worked as an adviser to the prime minister, said climate change is an issue of governance, not science.

He called for promotion of indigenous and local knowledge through institutional efforts to help people adapt to the crisis. “We can adopt citizen science and institutionalise local knowledge,” he said.

Abdalah Mokssit, secretary general of the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC), stressed on the use of artificial intelligence and neo-science in order to tackle the climate crisis.

At another session titled “Powering the future; harnessing clean energy”, speakers stressed the production of clean energy.

Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, Hitrendra Dev Shakya, gave examples on how climate change is affecting water resources. As the water level drops in rivers in the dry season, Nepal is forced to import electricity from India.

Francesco La Camera, director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency, proposed setting up a public fund for the promotion of renewable and clean energy to aid disadvantaged or vulnerable communities.

Vice-chancellor of Kathmandu University Achyut Wagle called for investments for the promotion of green energy.

Wagle said that scientific community has produced a lot of data related to climate change. He said that global climate governance needs to be strengthened.

Aditi Mukherji, Director, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Impact Action Platform of the CGIAR, said that agriculture and food systems emit one third of the total GHG emissions. She also said that irrigation is one of the systems that use a lot of energy in this region. She highlighted the importance of finance, capacity development and technology transfer.

In the session “Risk and assessment of mountain regions,” experts discussed the magnitude of the climate crisis triggered by rising temperatures.

The “Exploring Nature, Culture, and Adventure in the Mountains” session focused on the critical role mountains play as the confluence of natural systems, cultural identity, and adventure tourism, particularly in the context of the Himalayas.

The session highlighted how mountains are not only geographical features but sacred spaces, cultural repositories, and life-supporting systems, especially as sources of water and biodiversity. These regions are rich in flora and fauna, including iconic species like snow leopards and tigers, and support millions of people across diverse ethnic and cultural groups.

The discussion drew attention to the mounting threats of climate change. Rising temperatures, glacial melt, water insecurity, and biodiversity loss are transforming the mountain ecosystems at an alarming pace. Panellists raised the concern that climate change is not a distant risk but a present reality, affecting food systems, displacing communities, and eroding indigenous knowledge, cultural identity, and local traditions.

Rapid warming has already exceeded critical thresholds, with grave consequences for Himalayan populations, especially as mountain tourism and traditional livelihoods come under increasing pressure.

On adventure tourism up on the mountains, experts stressed the need for sustainability while exploring its potential for national development. They pointed to a pressing need for eco-conscious tourism models that respect cultural heritage and local ecosystems while providing economic benefits. Diversifying tourism and promoting high-value, low-impact experiences were presented as key strategies to ensure resilience and sustainability in the face of environmental and socio-cultural changes.

Another central theme of the second day was the loss of indigenous culture and seeds due to migration and modernisation. Sacred traditions, local knowledge, and practices deeply intertwined with nature are disappearing as youths migrate to urban areas and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge declines. There was a call to document and preserve these elements as vital parts of the region’s identity.

Examples were given of how community-based approaches, such as those practised in Uganda and along the Mahakali river in Nepal and India, can successfully balance development and conservation. Local communities were shown to have strong connections with natural resources and to be effective stewards when empowered. The role of integrating local voices, especially of the youth and women, in mountain tourism and conservation was also emphasised.

In the same vein, there was discussion of global inequality in climate impacts and financial mechanisms designed to address them. Despite receiving billions in climate finance, much of this comes in the form of loans, and access for small-scale local actors remains limited.

It was noted that wealthy nations contribute disproportionately to climate change while developing countries suffer its consequences. Calls were made for more efficient and equitable financial structures that are accessible to small and medium enterprises and rooted in grant-based rather than debt-based support.

There was a sense of urgency but also hope. Mountains, though under threat, are sites of resistance and renewal. A call was made to take the momentum from this dialogue to international platforms like COP30, asserting that mountain voices and the realities they face must be made central to the global climate agenda.