KATHMANDU: High-level officials, parliamentarians, and climate experts have arrived in the scenic mountain town of Namche Bazaar for the Himalayan Climate Charter (HCC) 2026 summit, set to begin June 1 in the shadow of Mount Everest.

Lawmakers from Nepal’s major parties, along with scientists, glaciologists, community leaders, and a high-level South Korean delegation, are now on the ground. The event is jointly organized by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) and the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, with key backing from the Blackyak Co. Group, Korea.

According to SPCC CEO Tshering Sherpa, the summit will unveil a landmark "Namche Action Agenda." Why it matters: For years, Himalayan communities have battled rising temperatures, rapid glacier melt, dangerous glacial lake floods, dying biodiversity, and unchecked tourism. Past declarations from faraway capitals often stalled. HCC 2026 aims to change that, as per Sherpa.

The charter was first launched in Kathmandu in 2025, uniting mountaineers, scientists, and local groups. Now, organizers say it’s time for action, not just words.

"This summit moves the conversation from policy talks to frontline action," said Mingma Chhiri Sherpa, Chairman of the rural municipality. "Hosting it in the Everest region forces a confrontation with reality."

Namche Bazaar—a legendary Sherpa hub and Everest gateway—was chosen for its symbolic and strategic weight. Here, climate change isn’t a distant statistic. Locals and trekkers have watched snowfall become erratic and the Khumbu Glacier retreat meters every year.