Press Meeting in Nepal disclosed: Appa Sherpa To Lead Copenhagen March

World leaders have called for a comprehensive, ambitious and fair international climate change deal to be clinched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, 7th-18th December this year.

Representing Nepal, PM Madhav Kumar Nepal is also going to participate in the meeting

On December 11th, which is marked as “Mountain Day” in the conference; mountaineers around the world are planning Copenhagen March in the leadership of record holder Appa Sherpa. Popular mountaineers around the world will induce developed nations to reduce carbon production and they will sign in support of saving mountains.

A press meeting was organized at Nepal Tourism Board on Monday, November 2nd to declare the plan of the government for the Copenhagen March and about the Ministerial meeting at Everest Base Camp (EBC) that is probably going to be held before 15th November.” The purpose of the meeting at EBC is to direct the attention of the world towards the Himalayas and the troubles the Himalayan people are going to face in the future due to the effect of climate change in Himalayas. (Some folks have profoundly criticized the plan of ministerial meeting at EBC because according to them the world will notice it as the mimicry of Maldives.)

On the meeting, Appa Sherpa, the 19-time Mt. Everest summitter said, “We will do everything possible to make “Save the Himalayas” and declaring the Himalayas as Green Zone campaigns a major success in the international society.

Appa further said, “It is important that the attention of the world community is drawn toward the plight of the people living in the lap of the Himalayas,” While it is urgent that Nepal engage in raising awareness on the issue, it is equally important to clean the heaps of waste disposed at the Everest base camp. Himalayas are the first that made Nepal popular to the world, so it is the duty of the Himalayan summitters to jointly save the Himalayas now.” Appa also discussed about the Dikcho Glacial Lake outburst in 1985 and the potentiality of Imja Glacial Lake outburst.

Another summitter, Shaili Bashnet disclosed the fact in the press meet that there was no Imja Lake until 1960, but now it is going to outburst. “Guess how fast the climate change is affecting our Himalayas. If this continues, mountain climbing will change into just rock climbing in some years. We have to make whole world know about these issues via Copenhagen conference” She said.

Another renowned Nepali climber Dawa Steven Sherpa expressed his confidence that at least a 1,000 people could be easily be mobilized for the Copenhagen march.

Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation Deepak Bohara questioned. “When we talk about the impact of global warming in the Arctic or on the island nations, why aren´t the Himalayas not mentioned?” “The Himalayas are melting and we can´t let the world remain a silent spectator,” Bohara said.

Minister Bohara informed about the government’s plan to invite former US President Bill Clinton and former US vice-president and leading ecological activist, Al Gore, and some other famous celebrities to attend the march as a sign of cohesion. He also said that Non-Resident Nepalese community in Europe will also be mobilized for the event.

Claudia W Sadoff, the World Bank representative said that the World Bank will support the government in its environmental awareness plan. She said “It is very exciting that Nepal is taking a lead role in raising awareness on the impact of climate change in the Himalayas and the World Bank will support it.

The Union of Asian Alpine Association (UAAA) has also committed to support the event.