Nepal Proposes Stricter Everest Climbing Rules to Enhance Safety and Cleanliness
Nepal Proposes Stricter Everest Climbing Rules to Enhance Safety and Cleanliness
Nepal is set to implement stricter rules for Mt Everest expeditions, requiring climbers to have successfully scaled a peak above 7,000 meters before attempting the world's highest mountain. This move aims to reduce the number of deaths in the high-altitude zone. Since the first summit by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953, over 9,000 climbers have reached the top, while more than 300 have died.
A new draft law, registered on April 18, stipulates that climbers must prove their experience by climbing a peak over 7,000 meters before attempting Everest. The bill, currently under review in Nepal’s Parliament, also mandates health checks and requires climbers to submit a medical certificate from a government-approved institution. Those with health issues will be excluded. The bill addresses safety concerns, such as the rising number of deaths—17 in 2023 and 8 in 2024—and environmental issues, including glacier melt and Everest’s growing garbage problem.
Additionally, the bill proposes a non-refundable garbage fee to replace the current refundable deposit and includes provisions for better management of recovery operations for climbers who die on the mountain.