October 6, 2017

Mount Everest Biogas Project has been recognized by the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) as a nominee for the 2017 Mountain Protection Award (MPA)

Honored among a prestigious group of twenty-two nominees from around the world for the 2017 MPA, the Mount Everest Biogas Project is an innovative, environmentally sustainable solution to the impact of human waste on Mount Everest and beyond.

Launched in 2010, the Mount Everest Biogas Project is comprised of an all-volunteer team that has conceived, designed and tested a solar-powered anaerobic biogas digester that will eliminate the annual dumping of 26,000 pounds of solid human waste that is generated each year at Mount Everest Base Camp. When constructed, which is slated to occur as early as 2018, the biogas digester project will protect and preserve the pristine natural environment in the Khumbu Region of Nepal while bringing a wide range of environmental and economic benefits to the local communities.

 Founded in 1932, the UIAA is the international federation for climbing and mountaineering, representing the interests of over three million climbers and mountaineers from member federations on all six continents. Each year since 2012, UIAA has awarded the MPA winners a grant to continue the pursuit of environmental stewardship and education in mountainous regions of the world, with the ultimate goal of rewarding sustainable practices in highly sensitive and remote ecosystems that are affected by mountain tourism.

 The winner will be announced at the UIAA General Assembly, which will take place in Shiraz, Iran on October 21, 2017. The project is currently showcased on UIAA’s website.