Princess Al Thani to deliver keynote address during COP-28 in Dubai

KATHMANDU: Princess Sheikha Asma Al Thani of Qatar is scheduled to deliver a keynote address during the Sathsathai side event at COP-28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Prajita Karki, the Chairperson of Sathsathai, a women-led organization, has confirmed that Princess Thani will be the Chief Guest in the program.

According to Karki, Princess Thani will deliver a speech on ‘Climate Change and its Impact on Vulnerable Groups’ on December 4, 2023, during the COP-28 side event.

Chairperson Karki expressed satisfaction in securing the participation of a member of the Qatari royal family, emphasizing that the princess, who has scaled mountains including Everest in Nepal, has closely observed the issue of climate change in Nepal.

Karki stated, “It is a matter of pleasure for us to have her address at the side event of COP-28.”

A delegation led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda will represent Nepal at COP-28, with a specific focus on raising concerns about the melting of Nepal’s mountains.

Earlier, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the need for the global community to take the issue of Nepal’s melting mountains seriously.

Chairperson Karki believes that the presence of Princess Thani, an experienced mountain climber in Nepal, will effectively convey the issue of the melting mountains and its consequences to the international community.

President Karki anticipates that Princess Thani’s speech will be instrumental in elucidating the challenges faced by Nepal, especially among vulnerable groups such as women, children, the helpless, disabled, poor, and minority communities.

Princess Thani, known for her work in women’s empowerment in Arab countries, has successfully climbed six mountains in Nepal.

Princess Al Thani achieved significant milestones in her mountain climbing endeavors, including successfully summiting Everest on May 27, 2022, Lhotse on May 28, 2022, Mount Kangchenjunga on May 9, 2022, and Ama Dablam on November 8, 2021.

She also climbed Dhaulagiri and Manaslu in early 2021 and became the first Qatari woman to successfully climb Mount Ama Dablam without using oxygen.

Simultaneously, Sathsathai will organize two side events at the Nepal Pavilion during COP-28.

‘Climate Change and its Impact on Vulnerable Communities’ will take place on December 4 in Dubai, and ‘Addressing Loss and Damage: Nepal’s Climate Change Impact and Compensation’ is scheduled for December 8.