Sagarmatha Sambaad kicks off on Friday [With detailed programs]

KATHMANDU: The inaugural Sagarmatha Sambaad, a three-day international dialogue, is kicking off in Kathmandu on Friday.

The dialogue will bring together global leaders, experts, and stakeholders to address pressing environmental and climate challenges under the theme ‘Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity’.

The inaugural session will feature a plenary session on the event’s theme – Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity.

A total of 13 parallel sessions, a plenary session, and high-level side events, and multi-stakeholder discussions will be held on five different themes during the event.

Sagarmatha Sambaad will see minister-level representation from close neighbors India and China. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Arzu Rana Deuba, said at a press meet in Kathmandu on Tuesday that Xiao Jie, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, will represent China at the event, while India will be represented by Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav.

Similarly, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Mukhtar Babayev, who chaired COP-29, will also participate in the Sagarmatha Sambaad, according to Minister Deuba.

Given below is the detailed program of Sagarmatha Sambaad:

Day 1

09:30-11:00 Opening Session 

11:30-13:30—Plenary Session: Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity

Theme 1: Beyond Mountains: Linking Mountains to Oceans

14:30-16:00—Parallel Session 1: Urgency of 1.5-degree ambition for preservation of glaciers

14:30-16:00—Parallel Session 2: Connecting highlands to islands

16:30-18:00—Parallel Session 3: Food security and climate resilient agriculture

16:30-18:00—Parallel Session 4: Community-led climate initiatives in the mountains

Day 2

Theme 2: Green Economy

9:00-10:30—Parallel Session 5: Powering the future: Harnessing clean energy

9:00-10:30—Parallel Session 6: Exploring nature, culture and adventure in the mountains

Theme 3: Averting, Minimizing and Addressing Loss & Damage

10:45-12:15—Parallel Session 7: Mountain risk assessment and monitoring

10:45-12:15—Parallel Session 8: Addressing loss and damage in the mountains

Theme 4: Climate Justice and the Future of Humanity

13:15-14:45—Parallel Session 9: Sustainable cities and communities

13:15-14:45—Parallel Session 10: Building an inclusive future: gender and intergenerational equity

15:00-16:30—Parallel Session 11: Bridging science and technology for mountain resilience

15:00-16:30—Parallel Session 12: Sustaining mountain economy

15:00-16:30—High-level session: Collaboration and cooperation beyond borders: HKH Ministerial meeting

16:45-18:30—Parallel Session 13: Unlocking Youth Potential in Science, Technology, and Innovation

Theme 5: Global and Regional Partnerships

16:45-18:30—Multi-stakeholder Roundtable (Discussion)

1. Ecosystem services: recognize, respect and reward
2. Climate-induced disasters: risk reduction and resilience
3. Innovative climate and carbon financing

Day 3

06:00-8:00—Flight to Sagarmatha

09:00-10:30—High-level side event: Addressing the triple planetary crisis: air pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change

09:00-10:30—High-level side event: Overcoming Financial Challenges to Climate Justice Action and Sustainable Development

10:00-11:30—Sagarmatha Sambaad 2025 Declaration

11:45-13:00—Closing Session