Nepal hosts environment conference as Himalayan glaciers melt

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — An environment conference opened in Nepal on Friday to discuss global climate change, including the impact on the highest Himalayan peaks where snow and ice are melting.

The three-day conference in Kathmandu titled, “Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity,” is expected to include discussions of critical climate issues.

“From the lap of Sagarmatha (Everest), the world’s highest peak, we send this message loud and clear that to protect the mountains is to protect the planet. To protect the mountains is to protect our seas. To protect the mountains is to protect humanity itself,” Nepal Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli told participants at the opening meeting.

Nepal is home to eight of the tallest mountains in the world including Mount Everest. A high level of glaciers melting in the Himalayan mountains because of global warming has raised signficant concerns. Melting snow and ice have exposed the mountains and increased the risk of rock slides, landslides and avalanches.

Scientists have warned the Himalayan mountains could lose up to 80% of their glaciers if the Earth warms in coming decades or centuries. They say flash floods and avalanches also could become more likely in coming years, in part because of climate change.

“The tragedy is that the Himalayas are facing an unprecedented stress test in real time today, exposing not only the fragile nature of our mountain ecosystems but also a glaring evidence of the lack of meaningful global climate action,” Nepal Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba said. “As a mountainous country with high disaster risk vulnerability, Nepal faces a stark predicament.”

Nepal has experienced a series of severe weather events in the recent past with devastating impacts on people and their livelihoods, Deuba said.

"Floods and glacial lake outbursts have caused large-scale destruction and damage, and droughts, water scarcity and forest fires have brought untold suffering to the people across the country," she said

Ministers from neighboring India, Bhutan and Maldives are attending the conference.

Organizers have said they intend to publish a Kathmandu declaration after the discussions end Sunday.

A Chinese delegate arrives to participate in an environment conference named Sagarmatha Sambaad (Mount Everest Dialogue) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, center, arrives to participate in an environment conference named Sagarmatha Sambaad (Mount Everest Dialogue) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

An Indian delegate arrives to participate in an environment conference named Sagarmatha Sambaad (Mount Everest Dialogue) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepalese policemen stand guard during the inauguration of an environment conference named Sagarmatha Sambaad (Mount Everest Dialogue) at the Soaltee Hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)estha)

A volunteer awaits to welcome delegates during the inauguration of an environment conference named Sagarmatha Sambaad (Mount Everest Dialogue) at the Soaltee Hotel in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)estha)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Brandon Miller scored 18 points, LaMelo Ball had 17 and the Charlotte Hornets built a 47-point lead in the first half of a 150-95 rout against the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.

It was the second-biggest win in franchise history for the Hornets and their largest on the road.

The Hornets bounced back from a pair of frustrating losses in a big way, having fallen to Toronto by one point and Indiana by two in their last two games. Charlotte pounded the NBA champion Thunder by 27 in Oklahoma City before those defeats, previously the Hornets' most lopsided victory of the season.

Tre Mann led the Hornets with 20 points in 12 minutes off the bench. Miles Bridges and Collin Sexton each scored 15 in a game Charlotte led by 57 in the second half.

Ryan Kalbrenner and Grant Williams returned from injuries for Charlotte, which outscored Utah by 45 points behind the 3-point line in the first half. The Hornets were 16 for 36 while the Jazz hit one of their 12 attempts.

Brice Sensabaugh scored 26 points for the Jazz, who rested leading scorer Lauri Markkanen and were without injured starting center Jusuf Nurkic.

Williams, playing for the first time since November 2024 after recovering from right knee surgery, hit consecutive 3-pointers to cap a 23-2 run that made it 39-8. The Jazz went scoreless for more than five minutes as Charlotte scored 17 straight points.

It was 45-14 after one and the Hornets extended it to 77-30 on Bridges' 3-pointer with 1:41 left in the half. Utah scored the final eight points of the half.

Kalkbrenner had 12 points and nine rebounds after missing 10 games with a sprained left elbow.

Hornets: Visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.

Jazz: Visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) passes the ball as he is defended by Utah Jazz forward Taylor Hendricks (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Bethany Baker)

Utah Jazz center Kyle Filipowski (22) drives to the basket as Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, left, defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Bethany Baker)

Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams (2) catches a rebound as Hornets forward Moussa Diabaté, left, assists during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Bethany Baker)

Utah Jazz center Kyle Filipowski (22) reacts as Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green comes down the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Bethany Baker)

Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (1) looks to pass the ball as Utah Jazz forward Cody Williams (5) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Bethany Baker)