Environment

A healthy natural world is essential, not just for the livelihoods of those of us who live and work in the mountains, but for the wellbeing of the entire planet. Protecting the environment is one of the key pillars of the Nimsdai Foundation’s work.

From providing grants to projects which safeguard biodiversity, to promoting the use of cleaner technology worldwide, to initiatives aimed at reducing the impact on the world's highest peaks, through flagship projects like the Big Mountain Clean Up.

Scientific research shows that warming occurs more rapidly at higher altitudes, putting these fragile ecosystems and the communities that depend on them under increasing pressure.

From rapidly shifting weather patterns to the degradation of permafrost and the retreat of snowlines, the changes occurring in mountain environments are profound and accelerating.

These transformations disrupt local water cycles, increase the risk of landslides, floods, and wildfires, and threaten the biodiversity uniquely adapted to high-altitude life.

But the consequences of climate change in mountain regions are not confined to the peaks. Mountains serve as vital sources of freshwater for billions of people, and their disruption affects river systems, agriculture, and weather patterns far beyond their slopes.

That’s why we support and advocate for sustainable, community-led solutions—ranging from clean energy access and responsible tourism to environmental stewardship practices like “leave no trace” and “clean as you go.”

The climate crisis demands collective action, and mountain regions, while vulnerable, can also be powerful centers of resilience and innovation. We must act now, together, to protect these essential landscapes and the people who call them home.

The Earth is our home; there is no Plan B.

It is not just on the high mountains that the Big Mountain Clean Up has made an impact. Along with the Nimsdai Foundation’s purpose to inspire, educate and protect, others have taken on their own clean up missions.

An example is that during the 'Dusk to Dawn' night harbour hike, participants collected rubbish along the first six miles of the route, removing over 7.2kg of waste.