Clean Everest
Project description
Clean Everest is an annual initiative involving 50 Tibetan mountain guides, 100 Chinese and foreign volunteers climbers, collecting tons of high altitude waste and 50 yaks carrying them down.
The clean mountain charter was created in cooperation with Lhasa Mountain School, following first 100% Tibetan expedition in 2013. It is composed of 4 parts including Protection of Water, Waste treatment, Protection of Fauna and flora and Education.
Major Issue
Lack of awareness of the expeditions and accumulation of waste on the slopes of Everest is contributing to the water sources pollution in the region.
Social impact indicator
Protection of glaciers, water quality vital for 2 million people in Asia
Key objectives
- With China, set up a waste management model for Mount Everest, replicable on other mountains.
establish a waste management plan for the future, which would be sustainable in time and replicable in other touristic sites in Tibet
raise awareness on the issue of pollution in Tibetan and Chinese population
Key achievements
creation and implementation of a clean mountain charter
- raise awareness of the expeditions about the waste issues
- train the professional Tibetan mountain guide team as environment protectors
- build international partnerships with sponsors
- 2 expeditions in 2016 and 2017. 5 tons of trash have been cleared up
- from 2018, the local authorities will undertake the annual project
Project leader
Marion Chaygneaud-Dupuy, initiated Clean Everest in partnership with the Chinese administration ‘Mountain Bureau’, the private Guides’ company and the Mountain Guides School in Lhasa.
