Under the initiation and overall management of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), the Rt. Honorable Prime Minister, Mr. Puspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ hoisted Nepal’s National Flag at Kala Patthar to highlight the effects of global warming on Nepal’s mountains and attract the attention of the international community.

Rt. Honorable Prime Minister Prachanda reached Kala Patthar on Saturday morning at an elevation of 5644.5 m (18,519 ft), the same location that hosted the meeting of Nepal’s Council of Ministers back in 2009 for the same reason, to hoist the flag.

This symbolic act is believed to be an instrumental event to convey Nepal’s statement against the effects of global warming on Nepal’s mountains and advocate for compensation.

Nepal is diligently preparing, with its all capacities, to make a strong statement against the impact of global warming in Nepal’s mountains at COP28 and secure compensation funds for countries like Nepal, which have a lesser contribution to carbon emissions but have been suffering the most. COP28 (28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) is scheduled for 30th November to 12th December 2023 in Dubai.

Standing at the center of the ground surrounded by the rocky mountains without snow caps, a result of the global warming effects, the Rt. Honorable Prime Minister Prachanda said, “I strongly believe that this act will be an important event to make our statement stronger at COP28 in Dubai. I wholeheartedly would like to thank the NMA for this unique idea and for the overall management.” The Rt. Honorable Prime Minister Prachanda is leading the Nepali delegation at COP28.

The NMA, having completed 49 years of establishment and turning 50 years on 1st November 2023, coincided this flag hoisting event with its Golden Jubilee (50th NMA Day) celebration.

The hoisting of Nepal’s National Flag is accompanied by a peace torch initiated by the NMA from Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha, carried out by renowned Sherpa and other climbers.

The Rt. Honorable Prime Minister Prachanda first landed at Lukla and was received by NMA officials, including President Mr. Nima Nuru Sherpa and locals residence. A brief inauguration event was arranged at Himalayan Lodge in Lukla before flying to Kala Patthar to hoist the flag.

At the inauguration program, the Rt. Honorable Prime Minister expressed his commitment to raising the voice against global warming in COP28. “Just right before COP28, I have had this opportunity to visit the Khumbu region and witness the situation of our mountains vastly affected by global warming. This is the right time to make our voice louder against it, and I promised that I will raise this issue strongly at COP28. It is urgent to advocate for compensation,” the Rt. Honorable Prime Minister said.

On the occasion, the President of NMA, Mr. Nima Nuru Sherpa, highlighted the importance of raising these issues strongly in COP28. “We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Rt. Honorable Prime Minister for accepting our request and visiting this place for an important cause. This is a really high time to raise the voice against global warming. We are really suffering from it,” President Sherpa added, “As an alpine association of the country, we, the NMA, will always be with our country and support every step of the Government of Nepal.”

Both occasions, in Lukla and Kala Patthar, were attended by Honorable member of Nepal's National Assembly Mr. Sonam Geljen Sherpa, high-level government officials, local government chiefs, including the chairman of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Mr. Mingma Tsheri Sherpa, Chairman of Thulung Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality Mr. Ashim Rai, and local residents.

The Chief of Civil Aviation Division under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Mr. Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, Director-General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) Mr. Pradeep Adhikari, NMA officials, including Chief Advisor Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa, Senior Vice President Mr. Thakur Raj Pandey, General Secretary Mr. Mohan Lamsal, Treasurer Mr. Mukti Pandey, Central Secretariat Member Mr. Rajendra Bahadur Lama, Goodwill Ambassador Mr. Kaji Sherpa, and Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Jinesh Sindurakar, were also in attendance.