Nepal to Restrict Mt. Everest Permits: New Law to Limit Access

Nepal is set to introduce a new draft law that aims to limit access to Mount Everest to experienced climbers. The new regulations, currently in draft form, would require climbers to have previously scaled a peak above 7,000 meters before attempting Everest. This move is in response to concerns about the increasing number of deaths, overcrowding, and environmental degradation at the world’s highest peak.

Why in the news?

Nepal’s government is planning to implement stricter regulations for Mount Everest expeditions. Under the new rules, only climbers who have already scaled peaks over 7,000 meters will be allowed to attempt the summit. This decision follows growing concerns over climber safety, environmental issues, and overcrowding.

Purpose

• The primary goal of the new law is to improve safety and reduce the number of fatalities on Mount Everest. By restricting access to climbers with prior experience at high altitudes, Nepal seeks to ensure that only qualified mountaineers attempt the dangerous ascent.

Aim

• To reduce the number of inexperienced climbers attempting Everest.
• To improve the overall safety of Everest expeditions.
• To mitigate environmental damage caused by overcrowding and waste accumulation.

Significance

• The decision is crucial for Nepal as it balances tourism with sustainability. Everest has become a major tourist attraction, but this has led to serious issues such as overcrowding, rising fatalities, and environmental damage. By restricting access, Nepal hopes to maintain the mountain’s status as a world-renowned climbing destination while ensuring it remains safe and pristine.

How does it affect citizens/students/youth/policy?

• This initiative aims to promote responsible mountaineering, ensuring that only those with the necessary skills and experience undertake such challenging feats. The move may also reshape how aspiring climbers approach training and preparation for high-altitude climbs.

Background

• Mount Everest has attracted climbers from around the world ever since Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary summited in 1953. Since then, thousands of climbers have scaled its peak, but at the cost of several fatalities and significant environmental degradation.
• Recent years have seen traffic jams on the mountain, increasing fatalities, and concerns over Everest being dubbed the “world’s highest garbage dump.”
• In response, Nepal has introduced the Integrated Tourism Bill, aiming to regulate the number of climbers and improve Everest’s environmental sustainability.

Important Details

• Date of Announcement: The new draft law was registered on April 18, 2025, in the upper house of Nepal’s Parliament.

Key Provisions

• Climbers must have previously summited a peak above 7,000 meters.
• Mandatory health checks and fitness certificates will be required.
• A non-refundable garbage fee will replace the current refundable deposit.
• Body retrieval operations will be better managed through insurance proposals.

Other Points

International/national cooperation?

• Nepal’s action aligns with global efforts to ensure responsible tourism and mountaineering practices. Many other countries with high-altitude mountains have similar policies to regulate access.

Budget, funding, implementation bodies?

• The draft bill aims to enhance Nepal’s mountaineering infrastructure and ensure that funds from climbing permits and fees are used to maintain the safety and cleanliness of Everest.

Connections to Sustainable Development Goals?

• This move aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by addressing waste management and promoting sustainable tourism.