ANTALYA: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has stressed the need for stronger preparations, sustained diplomatic engagement and multilateral cooperation to enhance Nepal’s role and effectiveness in international climate negotiations.
Speaking to the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) on Friday on the sidelines of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Khanal shared his views on the complexities of climate negotiations and the challenges Nepal faces in strengthening its diplomatic preparations.
He noted that COP decision-making is based on consensus among participating countries, making climate diplomacy particularly challenging as nations have different interests, priorities and positions.
“To fully establish the agendas we seek, preparation and participation of various stakeholders are required in advance,” he said.
Highlighting Nepal’s efforts to bring mountain-related issues to the forefront of the global climate agenda, Khanal said Nepal had, for the first time, attempted to formally place mountain issues at the centre of COP negotiations. However, getting an issue proposed by an individual country included in the formal negotiation agenda requires sustained international diplomatic efforts.
Although Nepal’s mountain agenda was not formally included in the official conference schedule, the conference leadership has continued to advance discussions on these issues through consultations, he said.
Khanal noted positive progress on several priorities raised by Nepal, including the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, ensuring predictable and grant-based climate finance, and promoting research and action plans focused on mountain regions.
“To save the Himalayas, it is essential to keep global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. For that, global commitment is necessary,” he said.
He also said discussions were progressing on dedicated research into the impacts of climate change on mountain ecosystems and the proposed establishment of a Mountain Work Programme.
According to Khanal, such a programme could help bring climate financing, scientific research and adaptation initiatives in mountainous regions under a more integrated framework.
The Foreign Minister also called for reforms in the existing climate financing mechanism, stressing that resources should be made available for adaptation and mitigation measures before disasters strike. He said lengthy administrative procedures often delay financial assistance to affected countries after climate-related disasters, highlighting the need to address such obstacles.
“Climate finance should be simple, predictable, and grant-based,” he emphasised.
Khanal further underscored the importance of long-term preparation and institutional capacity building to strengthen Nepal’s presence and influence in international climate negotiations.
He said Nepal must engage in diplomatic consultations and negotiations well ahead of international climate conferences by understanding the interests, concerns and priorities of different countries.
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