Bringing together climbing and climate change for the first time to raise awareness on its impact in the Himalayas, Asian Trekking, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are jointly organizing a Eco Everest Expedition 2008 in the spring of 2008.
Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking, who had climbed the Mount Everest in May 2007, will lead the expedition with Ken Noguchi, a Japanese alpinist and conservationist who is also the senior advisor to Eco Everest 2008.
Sharing his summit to Mount Everest in May 2007, Dawa Steven says, “The solid ice of the Khumbu icefall had melted into slush and, on the way down, was crackling and crumbling beneath my feet. Fellow Sherpas on the mountain were running for their lives and asking me to get down as quickly as possible. I did, and on the same day the entire ice filed simply collapsed.” He further said that most of his findings for the collapse pointed towards the effect of global warming.”
According to a joint press release issued by Asian Trekking, ICIMOD and UNEP, the expedition will be a platform to draw maximum global attention to the issues of climate change and melting glaciers in the Himalayas.
“ It will specially highlight the threats glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) pose to the local communities and environment in the region,” stated the release.
The main partner of the expedition ICIMOD will provide technical support and carry out scientific research in the Khumbu region, focusing on the Imja and Dig Tsho glacial Lakes.
In 2008, ICIMOD is celebrating 25th anniversary of working for the mountains and people in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya. The silver jubilee will be marked with a year long series of events aiming at raising awareness, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and enhancing the adaptation and resilience of the mountain people.
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