Carole Fuchs is a climate policy expert, environmental advocate, and high-altitude mountain athlete. With a background in law and a PhD in social anthropology, she combines international diplomacy, field research, and storytelling to drive action for nature and people. Until April 2025, she served as Climate Change and Biodiversity Policy Manager at the British Embassy in Tokyo, leading UK-Japan collaborations on renewable energy and advancing nature-based solutions.

Fuchs has extensive experience in the Himalayas, having climbed Mount Everest, summited several other 8,000m peaks, and undertaken numerous high-altitude expeditions across Nepal. She is currently producing 'Beyond Records', a documentary filmed during her ultra-running expedition across Nepal's high Himalayas. The film captures the voices of local communities facing glacier retreat and freshwater loss, highlighting the human impacts of climate change in one of the world's most fragile ecosystems.

In this interview with the Post's Anish Ghimire, Fuchs discusses 'Beyond Records', life on the mountain and why an aggressive approach to advocacy, such as that of Greta Thunberg, tends to be ineffective.

The authorities in Nepal heavily promote mountain tourism. Do you think they should also raise awareness about what's happening with climate change?

Authorities must see the bigger picture and protect the mountains immediately. We can progress if we all sit together and see what we can do.

I was once a record-chasing mountaineer. After climbing Everest in 2018 and Manaslu in 2017, I became disillusioned with the growing commercialisation and ego-driven culture of mountaineering. I realised that the mountains -- sacred and life-giving to millions -- were being treated as mere backdrops for personal glory. That realisation compelled me to stop climbing 8,000-metre peaks and instead focus on protecting the Himalayas and raising awareness about their fragility.

Since you've climbed Everest, I wanted to ask if we can do something about the many dead bodies on the mountain.

That is an important question. It's depressing for climbers and not a respectful sight for the mountain. In reality, something can be done, but it's very complicated. The main obstacle is the cost. Bringing a body down from Everest is extremely expensive and requires a whole team of Sherpas.

You mentioned you climbed from Tibet, not Nepal-why is that?

The reason is over-tourism. The north side of Tibet is more remote. You can even drive to base camp, which makes logistics easier. What struck me most was that the Chinese authorities manage the mountain more strictly than Nepal. They are earnest about garbage. There are weekly inspections, and someone checks that everything is in order. In 2018, when I climbed, I didn't see much trash there.

Also, fewer people are on that side, and most are serious mountaineers -- well-trained people -- rather than wealthy climbers who pay to reach the summit. So, the experience felt more authentic and less chaotic compared to the south side in Nepal, which is often overcrowded.

Walk me through the Everest experience.

I wanted to be the first French woman to climb it without oxygen. At that time, Everest was only my second 8,000-meter peak, so I didn't have much experience with no-oxygen climbing. But it was a fantastic challenge, and I'm quite optimistic.

I acclimatised in the Khumbu before going to Tibet. Everything went fine until about 8,300 metres -- the last camp on the north side. Above that camp, near Mushroom Rock, there used to be a body everyone called Green Boots -- a climber wearing green boots who became a grim landmark. Many people would ask me, 'Did you see Green Boots?' Some even made jokes about it, which I never found appropriate. I heard that the body is no longer visible now; no one knows why.

When I reached that point, I was extremely cold. Without oxygen, you really freeze. I had to make a decision: either continue without oxygen and risk turning back, or take it. And I thought, 'If I don't take oxygen, I might fail and won't get another chance -- who will fund another expedition for me?' So at around 8,500 metres, I decided to use oxygen.

Once I took oxygen, I moved faster and reached the summit in the middle of the night, so I had no view at all. I saw nothing. When I returned, I was exhausted -- but more than that, I was disappointed. I felt like I had cheated on myself. My goal was to climb without oxygen, and using it made me think I didn't belong there. It wasn't the way I had dreamed of doing it.

Later, of course, I realised that what I achieved was still meaningful. And I am glad I went because since then I have received no funding at all.

So you're self- funding this documentary project?

Yes, I am. I'm funding it with about $5,000 I received from friends. Most of them work in climate and sustainability, so they don't have much money themselves, but they still wanted to contribute because they believe in the project. Apart from that, I'm mostly relying on my own network here in Nepal.

Talking about 'Beyond Records', what sparked the idea of combining endurance sport with climate storytelling?

I think it comes from the fact that climate change is often presented in a scary or boring way. When I spoke to people, even climbers, and brought up climate change, they sometimes got defensive -- like, 'It's not because of tourism!' They felt lectured, and no one likes that.

So I thought: instead of lecturing, why not tell a story through adventure? If people can follow a journey -- an endurance challenge -- they naturally become curious. They ask: 'What is she doing? Why is she doing this?' And through that, they learn about the voices of communities, what they are experiencing, what they are feeling on the ground.

It's much more engaging to present climate change alongside a human challenge. People follow the sport, they follow the adventure, and then through the documentary or film, the message comes across more strongly than if we simply say: 'The ice is melting, we must act.'

Since you want to tell a story and not just advocate aggressively, what is your view of someone like Greta Thunberg? What do you have to say about her way of advocacy?

We definitely need more people like her, and I think we are starting to see more. But the challenge is that her style is very strong -- and that's why you see some backlash on social media.

I prefer a different approach. We should tell stories instead of lecturing people or saying they are doing something wrong. You don't force change; you inspire it. Greta is angry, which can alienate some people.

So what would you advise her if you got a chance to talk to her?

I would tell her: 'Tell a story'. Storytelling is more effective than aggressive messaging that says, 'This is what you must do'.

I've been hearing about climate change since I was a boy. We are aware, yet the situation worsens every year. Since we still rely on coal, oil, and gas, can we make a difference? How do you see the future of the world?

My job would tell you that we are on track to net zero. But personally, I feel it's not going to change. If the economy doesn't change -- if we don't slow down the economy -- nothing will really change.

Even electric vehicles won't solve the problem completely. Sure, they don't burn fossil fuels, but producing them uses critical minerals, and battery recycling creates emissions -- it all adds up. For me, unless we slow down the economy and change the model, we won't see meaningful progress. Capitalism largely controls this, and only a few push for change.

What we can do is talk about it, raise awareness, and make people more demanding toward companies.

Do you think leaders from countries like the US, China, and Russia care about climate, or are they just focused on geopolitical and economic competition? How do we convince leaders, such as Donald Trump?

Someone like him is a lost cause -- it's all about money. When you talk to ministers or top leaders, you have to frame it in terms of economic benefits. For example, if you develop green energy -- solar, wind, hydro -- your country benefits from green jobs. That boosts the economy. You also improve energy security, reducing reliance on Russian gas or oil from the Middle East.

So, you appeal to what's obvious: money and national interest. Unfortunately, everything boils down to money, so climate action is often delayed.