Nepal has reported 5 deaths in Everest this season—a decrease for the second consecutive year. The country is seeking ways to prevent inexperienced climbers from endangering themselves and others on the mountain. Tourism directly generated approximately 3 tons of waste on the mountain, 3.3 tons of feces, and over 44,800 liters of urine during the two-month climbing season.
Last updated: July 7, 2025
Kathmandu, May 29, 2025 – Today marks Everest International Day, which, as every year, coincides with the end of the climbing season on the world’s highest peak. The Government of Nepal issued 374 expedition permits, corresponding to 37 groups, as announced on April 28. This season’s results reveal several key takeaways: cleanup efforts remain a challenge and, although recent trends show a decline in fatalities, The NeverRest Project considers it essential to strive toward zero deaths during both sporting and professional activities—while also ensuring that tourism does not endanger the fragile local social and environmental ecosystem.
As of today, 5 people have died on Everest this season-, plus 2 more on nearby Lhotse. Last year saw 9 deaths, while 2023 saw 17 fatalities, indicating a downward trend. Nevertheless, we believe the path forward for high-altitude tourism involves the development of better technologies and safety devices to reach zero fatalities. The Government of Nepal has already launched important initiatives in this direction, such as limiting Everest access to experienced mountaineers who have previously climbed a 7,000-meter peak in Nepal, among other requirements. Demonstrating greater experience and competency in extreme environments has long been standard in other high-risk sports like motorcycling or scuba diving.
Waste management on the mountain remains an area ripe for improvement. According to estimates from The NeverRest Project, Everest tourism this season has directly generated around 3 tons of garbage on the mountain—from Camp 1 to Camp 4—as well as 3.3 tons of feces and over 44,800 liters of urine on the mountain and at Base Camp during the two-month expedition period. If we also account for the professional support teams—guides, porters, logistics, and kitchen staff—these figures double.
Frédéric Kauffmann, CEO and founder of The NeverRest Project, stated: “Every year, the mountain reminds us of the limits of our capabilities and the urgency of evolving our ways of inhabiting it. This season’s data from Everest suggests improvement, but it also clearly shows that we still lack the proper tools to understand, forecast, and respond to what happens in the high mountains.” He added, “The NeverRest Project was founded with the mission of ensuring the future of high-altitude tourism depends on our ability to turn information into action. That’s why we’ve developed EverData, a platform designed not only to record what happens, but to predict trends and support more responsible decision-making in terms of safety, environmental impact, and local development.”
About The NeverRest Project
The NeverRest Project is a technology-driven environmental innovation corporation focused on balancing tourism, the environment, and local communities, expanding its expertise on Everest to promote regenerative tourism worldwide.
The organization recently launched EverData, a pioneering platform that, for the first time, compiles, analyzes, and visualizes critical data on environmental impact, waste management, and tourism activity in the Everest region, along with five-year tourism and environmental forecasts.
The NeverRest Project has also developed the first sustainable base camp proposal for Everest, among other initiatives and campaigns from Everest’s summit to raise awareness of the need for more balanced, beneficial tourism for both travelers and local communities and ecosystems.
With support from Ferrino, Garmin, Eurecat, and Elisava School of Design and Engineering in Barcelona.