KATHMANDU, APRIL 23

The Himalayan Climate Boot Camp 2024 is set to take science journalists on an extraordinary journey to Everest Base Camp. This initiative, organized by the Nepal Forum of Science Journalists (NFSJ) and supported by Spark Grant Initiative (SGI), aims to enhance nuanced science reporting from challenging and often overlooked terrains of the Base Camp.

The upcoming boot camp, scheduled from 2-13 May, 2024, will commence with treks starting from Lukla and culminating at Everest Base Camp, aimed at exploring various climate related issues in this iconic location. The program will feature interactive activities with local communities in Lukla, Namche, Khumjung, and Everest Base Camp. The special session of the boot camp will be held at the Pyramid International Lab located in Lobuche.

Eight Science and environment journalists from Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh have been selected for this expedition following a competitive application process. Among them are four journalists from Nepal, two from India, and one each from Bhutan and Bangladesh. The chosen journalists will include Tanka Dhakal, Mahesh KC, Kamala Pakhrin, Ridhi Agrawal (Nepal); Nidhi Jamwal, Athar Parvaiz (India); Md. Jahidul Islam (Bangladesh); and Chencho Dema (Bhutan). The team comprises science journalists, climate scientist, researcher, as well as guides and porters.

This unique boot camp, mentored by esteemed professionals such as Subhra Priyadarshini (Chief Editor, Nature India), Ramesh Bhushal (Nepal Editor, The Third Pole), and Dr. Sudeep Thakuri (Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Mid-western University, Surkhet, Nepal).

Geographical remoteness and limited resources have historically hindered comprehensive reporting on climate change impacts in the Himalaya region, particularly in the Everest Base Camp area. 'The boot camp seeks to bridge this gap by enabling journalists to delve into these untold stories from challenging heights,' Chhatra Karki, Team Lead for the Boot Camp, Says.

'The boot camp presents a valuable opportunity for journalists to enrich their reportage with nuanced evidence gathered both from the field and ongoing scientific inquiry in the Everest Base Camp,' explained Priyadarshini, Chief Editor of Nature India.

The camp aims to facilitate collaborative reporting among journalists from Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, focusing on common climate change challenges in the region. 'By fostering open interactions among participant journalists, scientists, NGOs, and policymakers, the boot camp aims to create a lasting impact through informed and evidence-based reporting,' Rajan Pokhrel, President of NFSJ, says.

As a result of the boot camp, the participating journalists will produce two multimedia stories highlighting the impact of climate change in the Himalayan region based on their reporting from the Everest region.

The inaugural Himalayan Climate Boot Camp held in the Khumbu region from April 21 to April 27, 2022, was a resounding success. As a result of the boot camp, 23 stories directly from the field were published in national and international media outlets.