KATHMANDU: Nepal has started preparations for the 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-30) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will be held from November 10–21 in Belém, Brazil.
The conference will focus on fossil fuel transition, forest, ocean, and biodiversity conservation, agricultural and food system transformation, human development, technology, and capacity building.
Nepal plans to highlight the outcomes of the recent Sagarmatha Sambaad, with a particular emphasis on Himalayan conservation. The Ministry of Forests and Environment held a preparatory meeting with the Brazilian ambassador, government officials, NGOs, and development partners to finalize strategies.
Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, said the ministry has drafted an action plan to ensure Nepal’s participation is effective, learning from past COP experiences.
“We will engage with a coordinated team, taking all stakeholders’ voices into account. Key topics like climate finance, carbon trading, adaptation and mitigation measures, and loss and damage will be raised strongly,” he added.
Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, head of the Climate Change Management Division, outlined preparations including pavilion and side event planning, national concept paper development, inter-ministerial coordination, and engagement with Nepal’s Permanent Mission in New York. Nepal will also focus on Paris Agreement Article 6 discussions and high-level representation for its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change, with rising Himalayan temperatures threatening glacier melt, landslides in hilly areas, droughts, and floods in the Terai and Madhes regions. Poor, smallholder farmers, marginalized communities, women, children, and elderly populations are the most affected.
Youth representatives have emphasized that Nepal should use COP-30 to highlight youth concerns, climate finance access, the Green Climate Fund, loss and damage mechanisms, carbon markets, and adaptation and mitigation strategies, alongside the outcomes of the Sagarmatha Dialogue and Nepal’s best practices in climate action.
The government aims to send high-level representation to COP-30, likely led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Historically, Nepal has sent heads of state or government to five previous COP sessions, signaling serious commitment to climate diplomacy and enhancing decision-making influence.
Scientific studies indicate that Himalayan temperatures are projected to rise 0.3–0.7°C above global averages, affecting rainfall patterns, timing, and intensity, increasing climate-induced disasters and challenges for the Nepali population.
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