Everest: The Impact Climbing the Giant is Having on Nepal.
For many experienced climbers, reaching the summit of the tallest mountain in the world is a lifelong dream. Climbing to the highest point on earth (8,848m above sea level) requires a large investment of time and money. Nevertheless, the challenge that it presents is what draws so many climbers to attempt it each year.
“Everest” by nick taz is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.
Advancements in technology, increased mountaineering expertise, as well as the variety of guided expedition companies, have made Everest more accessible than ever; over 6,000 people have already scaled the mountain. Whilst this can be seen as a huge triumph for itching mountaineers, its impacts on the environment and inhabitants of the bordering country of Nepal are not so refreshing.
Despite increased tourism helping to improve the finances and opportunities of a few select groups in Nepal, the majority of the country still struggles with severe traffic congestion, high unemployment rates and the devastating impacts of climate change. The commercialisation of Everest threatens to create an even more hostile environment.
According to National Geographic, an average climber generates around 18 pounds of waste per climb, with the majority left on the mountain. Climber Shanna Burke, who spoke to the business insider, claimed that your body in the death zone (26,000 ft) is “essentially dying”. Therefore, when climbing Everest, it is crucial to reduce weight to increase chances of survival. Sadly, this has resulted in Everest being littered with oxygen tanks, human waste, abandoned tents, and food packages.
“Everest trek – 490” by Rick McCharles is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Top of The World, or Tip of The World?
Unlike Base camp, the rubbish that is left behind in the higher altitudinal camps can not be cleared as easily due to the physically demanding conditions. As a result, it has begun polluting the glaciers and water systems of the Nepalese people.
The Sagarmatha National Park (SNP), is host to a vital watershed that provides water to the local people from rainfall and melted mountain snow. Due to the improper disposal of waste and lack of sanitation facilities, the litter has been pushed into nearby waterways during monsoon seasons. This poses a significant health risk to the Nepalese people as it could lead to the contamination of water with faecal matter, potentially causing diseases like cholera or hepatitis A.
In recent times, the increasing temperatures as a result of climate change have led to ice and snow melting, uncovering litter dating back as far as the time of Hillary and Tenzing’s ascent*. This discovery has shed light on the possibility that the problem may be more severe than previously anticipated.
“nepali shantytown, paro” by sprklg is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
What’s Being Done?
Presently, there is a lot of controversy over the environmental issues exhibited on Everest. Therefore, the government has joined forces with the army and local organisations to assist in the clean-up of Mount Everest. Some of the efforts included movements such as the Big Mountain Clean-up coordinated by Nimsdai Purja, and the Mount Everest Biogas Project aimed at tackling the sanitation issues surrounding the mountain. However, many have noted how the damage caused by the waste will take years to clean up, and consequently, even ideas of climbing prohibition have surfaced.
Recently, the Nepalese government prohibited single-use plastic on the mountain. Furthermore, climbing teams will receive a fully refunded deposit of £3,000 if they collect a minimum of 8 kilos of waste on their descent. These are vital steps to help protect the Nepalese water systems.
While progress has been made in restoring one of the world’s natural wonders, this is only the beginning and the journey ahead is a long one. Therefore, reviving Everest for the benefit of the local community could now be a more challenging ascent than scaling the mountain itself.
Notes:
* Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first people to reach Everests summit on May 29, 1953.