In a 10-point declaration issued at the end of the half-an-hour meeting at Kala Patthar plateau, which is 17,200 ft above the sea level, the ministers said the countries contributing to the green house gas emission should bear the responsibility to minimise the impact of climate change.

The meeting also declared Apinama-Gaurishanker region as the new conservation area, according to the declaration read out by Prime Minister Nepal at a press meet at Syangboche, near the base camp of the world's highest peak, shortly after the Cabinet talks.

He also announced an increase in protected area coverage to 25 per cent from the previous 20 per cent and pledged to consolidate the 40 per cent forest coverage of the country.

The Prime Minister called on developed nations to study the impact of climate change on the poor, marginalised, backward communities and women and children living in the 2,700 km-long Himalayan region.

The climate change issue is not only linked to the mountainous countries and those at the sea level, it has become the common global phenomenon, he pointed out.

The aim of the meeting at Kala Patthar was to raise awareness about the melting Himalayas due to climate change.

"We are here to give the message to the world that the climate change is going to affect 1.3 billion people of the Himalayan belt and lower areas," the Premier said.
Scientists say the Himalayan glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, resulting in creation of huge lakes with walls that threaten to burst and flood mountain communities downstream.

Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala, who also attended the meeting, called on industrialised countries to provide funds to help developing nations cope with climate change.

Nepal will submit the 10-point agenda during the December 7-18 Copenhagen climate change conference.

The government has also decided to launch a 'Summit to Safe Himalayas' march past in Copenhagen to draw global attention to the impact of the climate change to the Himalayan range.

The march past will be attended by dozens of Everest summiteers from Nepal and across the globe.

Ahead of the meeting at the Mt Everest base camp, the Nepalese ministers were examined by doctors after which they were given the green signal to proceed to Kala Patthar in helicopters