- Thursday, 23 April 2026
Nepal, Solukhumbu, April 23 : A climate conference held in Gokyo, a high-altitude settlement in Solukhumbu, on the occasion of ‘Earth Day 2026’ has issued a call for urgent action to address the growing impacts of climate change in Nepal’s Himalayan region.
The “Gokyo Climate Declaration 2026”, adopted on Tuesday, highlighted the increasing vulnerability of high mountain areas and urged immediate steps for both climate adaptation and mitigation based on scientific research and local practices.
The declaration stressed the need to promote low-carbon and sustainable livelihoods, including eco-friendly tourism, climate-resilient agriculture, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Participants in the conference committed to advancing a low-carbon development pathway to reduce environmental risks while supporting local economies.
The key focus of the declaration is strengthening local and indigenous knowledge systems. It also called for greater investment in climate education and awareness, while ensuring that women, youth and local communities play a central leadership role in climate action.
The declaration also stressed climate justice, urging that climate responses be inclusive, rights-based and equitable. It called for meaningful participation of women, indigenous groups, youth and marginalised communities at all levels of decision-making.
Participants urged governments, international agencies and development partners to ensure fair and timely access to climate finance, technology transfer and capacity-building support. The declaration highlights the need for equal access to resources for vulnerable countries like Nepal.
It also called on the government to take a leading role in climate diplomacy by uniting mountain nations and raising Himalayan issues in international forums.
On environmental protection, the declaration urges a review of existing laws and the formulation of new policies to prioritise environmental justice and strengthen legal responses to climate challenges.
The conference drew attention to the increasing risks in the Khumbu region, particularly around Gokyo Lake and the Ngozumpa Glacier. Participants called for detailed risk mapping to address the threat of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and stressed the importance of early warning systems, disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure.
The declaration also highlighted the role of climate journalism in Nepal. Based on community dialogues, expert consultations and household surveys conducted in Khumjung, participants urged all levels of government to address the ongoing energy crisis with immediate plans.
They stressed the need for gender-sensitive and environmentally friendly energy solutions, noting that women, children, persons with disabilities and marginalised communities are disproportionately affected.
The declaration was endorsed by participants including Balkrishna Basnet, founder member of SathSathai, who said the conference helped bring forward firsthand understanding of climate impacts in the region. Experts at the event warned that many glaciers in the Gokyo area are at risk, calling for urgent government attention.
According to Basnet, the Gokyo Declaration reflected growing concern among stakeholders and experts over the fragile state of the Himalayan environment and the need for coordinated, inclusive and immediate action.
