[News] from [guardian.co.uk]
[Environmnt > Climate change]
From ocean beds to mountain tops: Everest hosts Nepalese cabinet meeting
Nepalese government meet at 5,620m to sign a resolution on climate change
Randeep Ramesh, south Asia correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 December 2009 11.47 GMT Article history
Nepal's cabinet met on Mount Everest today to highlight the threat of global warming to the glaciers and mountains of the Himalayas.
The government, represented by ministers wearing thick jackets, woolen hats and in some cases oxygen masks, endorsed a resolution on climate change in the bright sunshine of a Himalayan morning before flying back.
The 20-minute meeting, which took place at Gorak Shep – a plateau at 5,262m – under the shadow of the peak of Everest, comes in advance of next week's key climate change summit in Copenhagen. The political stunt comes after a cabinet meeting held underwater in October by Maldivian ministers which drew attention to the risk the Indian Ocean island-state faces from rising seas.
On the Himalayan slopes, ministers posed for pictures, signed a commitment to tighten environmental regulations and pledged to expand the nation's conservation areas.
"The Everest declaration was a message to the world to minimise the negative impact of climate change on Mount Everest and other Himalayan mountains," the prime minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal told reporters.
"Due to global climate change and its effects, the entire human civilisation is faced with additional challenges for their survival."
Nepal, which sits between China and India, is home to Everest, the world's tallest peak, and eight more of the world's 14 highest mountains. Global warming, say many experts, could see glaciers on the roof of the world melt away – threatening the water and food security for 1.5 billion people downstream in south Asia.
The event was planned with military precision. Three helicopters yesterday transported two dozen ministers including the 59-year-old prime minister, just recovered from influenza, to Lukla district near Everest. The politicians were accompanied by medical teams and 40 oxygen cylinders to prevent altitude sickness.
Four ministers declined to attend either because of health concerns or because they were travelling abroad. There were concerns raised in the local press that some were not fit enough to make the journey.
After acclimatising and a series of medical fitness tests, the cabinet ascended to Syangboche – 3,900m high – from where they flew to the snowy plateau next to Everest base camp.
Nepal is the twelfth poorest nation on the planet and ministers defended spending 6m rupees (£50,000) on the stunt.
Locals were reportedly pleased that the meeting took place, pointing out that the changing climate was all too obvious to them. "The hills and mountains used to be covered with snow even during the summer. But now snow can be seen only on the higher peaks," said Ngyendon, 66, who, like many in the region uses only one name.
[Environmnt > Climate change]
From ocean beds to mountain tops: Everest hosts Nepalese cabinet meeting
Nepalese government meet at 5,620m to sign a resolution on climate change
Randeep Ramesh, south Asia correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 December 2009 11.47 GMT Article history
Nepal's cabinet met on Mount Everest today to highlight the threat of global warming to the glaciers and mountains of the Himalayas.
The government, represented by ministers wearing thick jackets, woolen hats and in some cases oxygen masks, endorsed a resolution on climate change in the bright sunshine of a Himalayan morning before flying back.
The 20-minute meeting, which took place at Gorak Shep – a plateau at 5,262m – under the shadow of the peak of Everest, comes in advance of next week's key climate change summit in Copenhagen. The political stunt comes after a cabinet meeting held underwater in October by Maldivian ministers which drew attention to the risk the Indian Ocean island-state faces from rising seas.
On the Himalayan slopes, ministers posed for pictures, signed a commitment to tighten environmental regulations and pledged to expand the nation's conservation areas.
"The Everest declaration was a message to the world to minimise the negative impact of climate change on Mount Everest and other Himalayan mountains," the prime minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal told reporters.
"Due to global climate change and its effects, the entire human civilisation is faced with additional challenges for their survival."
Nepal, which sits between China and India, is home to Everest, the world's tallest peak, and eight more of the world's 14 highest mountains. Global warming, say many experts, could see glaciers on the roof of the world melt away – threatening the water and food security for 1.5 billion people downstream in south Asia.
The event was planned with military precision. Three helicopters yesterday transported two dozen ministers including the 59-year-old prime minister, just recovered from influenza, to Lukla district near Everest. The politicians were accompanied by medical teams and 40 oxygen cylinders to prevent altitude sickness.
Four ministers declined to attend either because of health concerns or because they were travelling abroad. There were concerns raised in the local press that some were not fit enough to make the journey.
After acclimatising and a series of medical fitness tests, the cabinet ascended to Syangboche – 3,900m high – from where they flew to the snowy plateau next to Everest base camp.
Nepal is the twelfth poorest nation on the planet and ministers defended spending 6m rupees (£50,000) on the stunt.
Locals were reportedly pleased that the meeting took place, pointing out that the changing climate was all too obvious to them. "The hills and mountains used to be covered with snow even during the summer. But now snow can be seen only on the higher peaks," said Ngyendon, 66, who, like many in the region uses only one name.
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