Qatari Princess Al Thani Calls Attention to Himalayan Environmental Crisis

Qatari Princess Sheikha Asma Al Thani expressed deep concern over the loss of vitality in the Himalayan mountains due to climate change during a conference in Thame. She described the changing landscape as ‘lifeless’ compared to 2019 and linked recent natural disasters to larger environmental issues, urging for global collective action.

Amid the towering peaks of Mount Everest, Qatari Princess and acclaimed climber Sheikha Asma Al Thani voiced her alarming observations regarding the deteriorating conditions of the Himalayan region. During a climbers’ conference in Thame, a village recently affected by glacial flooding, Princess Thani remarked on the marked absence of life in the mountains, contrasting her experience from her first visit in 2019.

Expressing her concern, Princess Thani stated, “The melting of snow on mountains like Everest is a threat not only to Nepal, but to the entire global community.” Reflecting on her previous expedition, she recounted, “I climbed Everest in 2019 and was mesmerized by its beauty and vitality. But now, I return to find bare rocks where snow once lay, blackened cliffs, and a silence that speaks of loss. There is no life in these mountains anymore.”

Princess Thani highlighted the significant impact of the 2023 glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), which devastated the region by displacing numerous families, damaging power infrastructure, and disrupting transportation routes. She emphasized that such disasters are indicative of broader, anthropogenic issues, stating, “These are not isolated disasters. They are symptoms of a much larger, man-made emergency. And it’s not something Nepal can or should bear alone.”

Additionally, she expressed her worries over the diminishing snow cover in the Himalayas, echoing the sentiments of a local climber who remarked, “Everest is no longer the white peak we remember from photos. It’s a fragile mountain now, and it needs protection, not just admiration.”

Princess Al Thani’s observations underscore the urgent need to address climate change and its profound impact on the Himalayan region. Her call for collective action reflects the necessity for global awareness and intervention regarding environmental challenges that threaten not just regional communities but the planet as a whole.

Original Source: risingnepaldaily.com