Climate Witness: Norbu Sherpa, Nepal

About Norbu Sherpa
Norbu Sherpa, a trekking guide from the small village of Ghat, near Mt Everest, tells how his life was affected by a flood and about melting glaciers on the world's largest mountain.

Quote: “I have more than two decades of trekking experience in this region, and have noticed changes in the glacier environment. I have seen glaciers melting and glacier lakes expanding. These expansions of the lakes greatly increase the risk of more glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) events occurring in our region.”

Norbu Sherpa’s story: Glaciers are melting and causing dangerous flooding

My name is Norbu Sherpa. I am 41 years old and I am a trekking guide in the Khumbu region in Nepal, not far from Mt Everest, the highest peak of the world. I was born in the small village of Ghat to the son of a senior monk, Lama Ang Dorja Sherpa. After completing my secondary education I took classes at a monastery for two years to become a monk. My career, however, took a dramatically different turn on 4 August 1985 when a glacier lake above my village collapsed and destroyed my home.

In order to earn a living and support my family I had to give up my career as a monk. I decided to start a trekking business. I have more than two decades of trekking experience in this region, and have noticed changes in the glacier environment. I have seen glaciers melting and glacier lakes expanding. These expansions of the lakes greatly increase the risk of more glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) events occurring in our region.

We notice many other climate changes in my village and its surroundings. Rainfall has declined and we are experiencing more droughts; trees are dying. This winter there was no snow and no rainfall. Instead, we had snowstorms when we least expected them, in spring, baffling locals and tourists alike.

I am now 40 years old and fear that more floods will occur. I would not be able to restore my life a second time, nor would any villager be able to sustain their livelihoods. So I pray it won’t repeat again and sadly that is all I can do. We as mountain people don’t normally have access to the international media and other fora where we can express how threatening it feels to live a life in the mountains. I would like to request everyone around the world to take climate change seriously and act quickly to reduce the impacts.

Read full testimonial and scientific background: www.panda.org/climatewitness/sherpa

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