Nepal’s foreign secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai said on Sunday that the upcoming Sagarmatha Sambad  will aim to draw global attention to the climate-related crises faced by mountain communities, including those in the Himalayas.

“We will discuss climate change, mountains and the future of humanity at the Sagarmatha Dialogue,” Rai said at an event in Kathmandu. “We must push forward a global conversation on the threats climate change poses to human civilization.”

Nepal is set to host the dialogue, named after Mount Everest’s Nepali name “Sagarmatha,” from May 16 to 18 in Kathmandu. Government officials said the summit will bring together heads of state and government, climate experts, and representatives from multilateral and donor agencies.

The event, the first of its kind organized by Nepal, seeks to position the country as a leading voice among mountain nations advocating for climate justice and recognition of the region’s environmental vulnerability. Despite contributing little to global greenhouse gas emissions, Nepal faces some of the world’s most severe climate impacts.

A 2022 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that the Himalayan region is warming at nearly twice the global average, with scientists warning that up to two-thirds of its glaciers could melt by 2050 if current trends continue.

Known as the “third pole,” the Himalayas serve as a vital water source for over a billion people in Asia. Glacial retreat, erratic snowfall, and rising risks of glacial lake outburst floods are already disrupting traditional livelihoods and regional water security.

“Sagarmatha,” or Mount Everest, stands as both a global icon and a stark symbol of these escalating threats. By placing it at the heart of this international summit, Nepal hopes to elevate the profile of mountain issues in global climate discourse.

According to Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, invitations have been sent to dozens of world leaders, ministers, diplomats, and climate specialists through Nepali embassies abroad and foreign embassies in Kathmandu. He said around 350 participants are expected, with 150 to 175 confirmed attendees so far.

Leaders from South Asian and mountain nations, as well as the United Nations secretary-general, are among the invitees.

Many world-renowned climbers and Everest summiteers have also received invitations to attend. Norwegian climber Erland Ness said in a Facebook post that he had been invited to participate in the summit.

Officials say the Sagarmatha Sambad will amplify mountain voices in international negotiations and push for stronger climate financing for vulnerable countries like Nepal.