SOME of Britain’s most prominent adventurers and naturalists have launched a campaign to place Mount Everest and other Himalayan peaks and ranges on the United Nations endangered list because of the impact of climate change.

Their call will be taken up at a meeting of the Unesco World Heritage Committee in Durban, South Africa, today. There is already a legal requirement for all countries to pass the Mount Everest National Park intact to future generations, but campaigners argue that this will not happen unless urgent action is taken to stop the melting of glaciers.

Sir Edmund Hillary, Sir Chris Bonington and Sir David Attenborough are among those backing the campaign by Pro Public (Friends of the Earth Nepal) and the Climate Justice Programme, supported by Friends of the Earth International.

Sir Edmund said: “The warming of the environment of the Himalayas has increased noticeably over the past 50 years. This has caused several and severe floods from glacial lakes and much disruption to the environment and local people. I agree the practical idea of remedial action of draining the lakes before they get to a dangerous condition is the only way to stop disasters.”

Catherine Pearce, of Friends of the Earth International, said: “Climate change is the biggest threat the planet faces. [The UN] must put Everest on the danger list and nations must wake up to the threat of global warming.”

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