Editorial | Implement the plan
Summary
Nepal's comprehensive Everest Cleaning Action Plan (2025-2029) aims to tackle the growing waste crisis threatening Sagarmatha National Park and restore the mountain's fragile ecosystem.
Key Points
- Mount Everest faces severe pollution from waste left by thousands of climbers each year, jeopardizing its ecosystem.
- Spring 2024 saw the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee collect 88 tonnes of waste from Everest Base Camp and higher camps.
- Nepal's new five-year Everest Cleaning Action Plan (2025–2029) mandates biodegradable materials and designates garbage collection points to manage waste.
- The plan also includes non-refundable deposits from climbers to fund cleanup, deployment of mountain rangers, and aims to balance tourism revenue with environmental preservation.
