BYN Black Yak Group Unveils 'Himalayan Climate Charter 2025'

BYN Black Yak Group (Chairman Kang Tae-sun, hereafter Black Yak) announced the 'Himalayan Climate Charter 2025' in Nepal, urging international attention and solidarity.

On the afternoon of the 5th local time, Black Yak co-hosted 'Summit for Earth' in Kathmandu, Nepal, with the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, and the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) to discuss the future of the Himalayas. The event was attended by about 200 guests, including Nepal's Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Pandey.

Known as the 'Roof of the World' and often called the 'Third Pole' due to its vast glaciers after the Arctic and Antarctic, the Himalayan region is facing a threat to its ecosystem due to issues such as reduced snowfall from global warming, flooding of farmland, and waste left by climbers, highlighting the need for environmental conservation.

At this 'Summit for Earth,' the Himalayan Climate Charter was announced, sharing the climate crisis challenges the Himalayas face and outlining principles and action plans for climate justice. Black Yak and the other three co-hosting companies and organizations signed the declaration.

The Himalayan Climate Charter includes key points such as ▲ urging global climate action, ▲ continuous Himalayan cleanup activities, ▲ technology and community-based cooperation, ▲ transparent disclosure of environmental information, ▲ amplifying voices from the climate crisis frontlines, and ▲ global partnerships and solidarity.

In particular, alongside global goals such as reducing carbon emissions, it reflects practical commitments that incorporate the experiences of local communities that have long coexisted with the Himalayas, the dissemination of the stories of Icefall Doctors and Sherpas, and cooperation using drone and satellite technology, bridging global and local, traditional and modern aspects. Furthermore, a specific roadmap was presented to encourage participation by national governments and international organizations, with plans to establish the Himalayan Climate Committee (HCC) in 2026.

Black Yak Chairman Kang Tae-sun, who attended in person, said, "Like the quiet warning from the Himalayas that changes starting at the highest places will soon reach the lowest, the climate crisis here is now a common problem facing all humanity. This declaration is not just a document of promises, but a call for collective action for climate justice. We hope this message spreads worldwide and leads to real change, and Black Yak, with its heritage in the Himalayas, will always be part of that journey."

#Full Text of 'Himalayan Climate Charter 2025'
In July 2025, through the 'Summit for Earth' in Kathmandu, Nepal, we declare our commitment to take the first step in global action to protect and transform our Himalayas in response to the warnings echoing from there.

The climate crisis is no longer a future issue. It is a reality already before us. Rising temperatures, collapsing ecosystems, and rapidly disappearing glaciers are deeply infiltrating the Himalayas, the lifeline for billions, beyond the poles and deserts.

The Himalayas hold significance beyond a mountain range. It is the source that supplies life-giving water to billions and a central axis sustaining Earth's climate balance. However, the residents who have harmoniously lived with nature here for many years are bearing the full brunt of the damage. Glaciers are melting, farmlands are flooded, and livelihoods are being destroyed.

We declare our intention to protect this land, respect its people, and act for the Earth we all share.

#Principles & Commitments

1. Call for global climate action
   Governments, businesses, and civil society must immediately reduce carbon emissions, transition to renewable energy, and implement climate adaptation policies.
2. Continuous Himalayan cleanup activities
   Conduct annual cleanup activities in the Himalayas, especially in Everest and the Khumbu region, integrating Sherpa wisdom and environmental technology.
3. Technology-based cooperation
   Enhance transparency, safety, and efficiency of environmental protection activities using drones, satellite data, and high-altitude equipment.
4. Community-based education
   Implement climate awareness education and safety training centered on Sherpas and high-altitude communities to ensure sustainability.
5. Transparent disclosure of environmental information
   Record and disclose collected waste, carbon impact, and ecological restoration data after verification.
6. Amplifying voices from the climate crisis frontlines
   Convey and connect the stories of Icefall Doctors, Sherpas, and porters, who are the first to experience the climate crisis, to the international community.
7. Global partnerships and solidarity
   This charter aims to establish a model for climate action that can be realized not only in the Himalayas but also in high-altitude and climate-vulnerable areas worldwide.

#Closing Statement
The Himalayas are not the end of the Earth. They are the starting point of change and a vast mountain that questions our choices. We hope that the message we shout from this mountain resonates across the globe and that this call does not end in words but leads to action and change.