KATHMANDU: Experts and climate change stakeholders have suggested that the government should prepare from now on to effectively raise the issue of Nepal’s climate-related losses and damages in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-28).
The conference will be held in Dubai next November, focusing on justice for the damage caused by climate change.
The speakers of the discussion program “Women, Climate Justice, Information, Inclusion and Innovation” organized by Sathsathai, an organization working on environment and gender justice issues, to discuss on the work to be done by the Nepalese government for its preliminary preparation, opined that Nepal will get justice only if it can put sufficient basis, evidence and logical presentation on the world stage.
Claiming that the risk of climate change is especially in women and marginalized communities, lawmaker and former Foreign Minister Dr. Bimala Rai Paudel stressed that the necessary programs should be carried out through effective coordination between the three levels of government to reduce the possible risk.
She said that it is necessary to make full use of local technology for environmental protection and to advocate national and international debate about its effects.
Citing that the white Himalayas have started to lose their natural glory in recent years, Manveer Rai, a member of the House of Representatives elected from Solukhumbu, remarked that due to climate change, the flowering season of fruits such as pears and apples has changed in the high mountain areas. He said that the climate change also affected other crops.
Rai pointed out that there is a need to prepare from now to raise the issue of adverse impacts of climate change in the Himalayas.
Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Environment Dr. Revati Raman Paudel said that various programs have been conducted as a policy for environmental protection and climate change risk control, and expressed his belief that such programs would be expanded in the future.
Barnardo Coco, Deputy Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Nepal, said that the issue of risk reduction is related to climate justice and assured that UNDP would support and help Nepal in its efforts to deal with climate change.
Abdulla Bin Jarwan Al Shamsi, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Nepal, said that the world views this year’s COP-28 with great importance.
He stated that the conference to be held in his own country will review the commitments made by various countries of the world regarding climate change issues and will take further decisions on the transition to clean energy.
Earlier, a week ago, the Sathsathai had organized a 6-day walk from Solukhumbu’s Lukla to Khumjung with climate justice as the main slogan on International Women’s Day. On the same occasion, it was reminded that there was an agreement with Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality to cooperate for climate justice for the next 5 years.
The chairperson of the Sathsathai, Prajita Karki reminded that the organization has been working in Sindhupalchok’s flood-affected Helambu rural municipality since last year.
Director General of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, climate experts Dr. Navindra Dahal, Dr. Siddharth Bajracharya, former Ambassador Dr. Arjun Karki, senior tourism entrepreneur Angchiring Sherpa, Chairman of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Mingma Chhiri Sherpa, Saru Shrestha Joshi , along with Dr. Ravi Sharma Aryal, among others agreed that Nepal should conduct an authentic scientific study on the adverse impacts of the climate change and present it on the international forum.
They suggested the government to take effective measures to claim compensation for the loss Nepal has to undergo due to climate change.
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