Tainted Sagarmatha

Nepal welcomed over 8M tourists from January to September in 2024. Tourism is one of the main income generating industries of the country, particularly for people from the Northern hill regions. Yet this industry is increasingly under threat due to environmental concerns and climate change. Warming glaciers are leading to rising water levels in rivers and lakes. There are ongoing concerns that fragile mountain infrastructure is unable to cope with the amount of trash left behind due to trekking tourism. 11 tons of waste were collected from Everest by a government clean-up programme in the summer of 2024 alone: empty gas canisters, torn tents, plastic food packaging, and leftover mountaineering gear. Indigenous sherpa say these annual clean-ups barely scratch the surface. The impact is profound, affecting local wildlife, water sources, and local communities for whom Everest, or Sagarmatha, is sacred. 

This ongoing project documents the daily life of Nepalis whose livelihoods depend on trekking tourism, climate change, and the growing issue of waste management in the Himalayas. Shot for Getty Images Reportage