In a significant move to strengthen climate advocacy in Nepal, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has nominated renowned mountaineers Purnima Shrestha and Nima Rinji Sherpa as climate champions. The appointment is part of UNDP Nepal’s ongoing initiative to raise public awareness about climate justice, particularly in vulnerable and marginalized communities.
The announcement came on the eve of a new social media campaign aimed at amplifying voices that highlight climate challenges in Nepal. Through this partnership, UNDP aims to mobilize youth leaders who can represent a new generation committed to gender-responsive climate justice.
According to UNDP, the campaign’s primary focus is to spotlight the unequal impacts of climate change on vulnerable groups, especially women and indigenous communities. Despite Nepal’s negligible contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, its high mountain and Himalayan communities continue to face severe climate-related challenges.
Purnima Shrestha and Nima Rinji Sherpa, both prominent figures in Nepal’s mountaineering community, have experienced the impacts of climate change firsthand through their expeditions. Their voices are expected to bridge the gap between scientific data and grassroots realities, using their platforms to engage wider audiences both locally and internationally. Nepal’s climate vulnerabilities are becoming increasingly evident. The shrinking of glaciers, loss of biodiversity, and the deteriorating conditions of sectors such as agriculture, health, drinking water, infrastructure, and education are just some of the visible effects.
These impacts have disrupted livelihoods and prompted growing concerns about long-term sustainability, especially in the high Himalayan belt. A joint three-year study conducted by UNDP and ICIMOD in 2020 revealed alarming statistics: Nepal is home to 2,323 glacial lakes, out of which 47 have been identified as highly dangerous due to the risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). These findings have further strengthened calls for urgent and collaborative action to mitigate risks and prepare communities for the future.
UNDP stresses that safeguarding the Himalayas, an integral part of the world’s glacial systems, is critical not just for Nepal but for global climate stability. The organization urges immediate, collective efforts to protect these fragile ecosystems for the benefit of future generations.
This initiative comes at a crucial time when the country is grappling with erratic weather patterns, increasing climate-induced disasters, and the growing need for climate-resilient development. By empowering mountaineers like Shrestha and Sherpa to become vocal advocates for climate action, UNDP hopes to inspire broader participation and dialogue at both the policy and community levels.
The campaign is also expected to catalyze interest among the youth and grassroots leaders to engage more actively in the fight against climate change. By placing local champions at the forefront of the climate conversation, UNDP Nepal is emphasizing the importance of inclusive climate governance and locally rooted solutions.
