KATHMANDU: Nepal will prioritize climate justice, protection of the Himalayan region, climate adaptation, and climate-related loss and damage at the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-31).
The conference is scheduled to take place in Antalya from November 9 to 20. Although Nepal contributes minimally to global climate change, the Ministry of Forests and Environment is preparing to highlight the risks and losses the country has suffered due to its impacts and call for climate justice on the international stage.
Ministry Secretary Rajendra Prasad Mishra said climate change has heightened risks in the Himalayan region, while recent disasters have further exposed its vulnerability. He said Nepal would draw international attention to the need to protect the region and address the losses suffered by vulnerable communities.
Mishra said preparations were underway to ensure Nepal’s delegation to COP-31 would be organized, effective and inclusive.
“We want the delegation to be systematic, effective and inclusive. Discussions are underway to form an effective delegation by including representatives of all concerned ministries and civil society,” he said.
Nepal is preparing to participate in the conference under the leadership of Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal. Minister for Forests and Environment Geeta Chaudhary will also attend the conference.
Nepal has consistently highlighted the Himalayan region’s vulnerability to climate change at previous COP meetings. According to Mishra, recent disasters have further underscored the urgency of addressing the region’s growing risks.
“We have been raising the issue of the Himalayan region being at high risk due to climate change for some time. Recent disasters have reinforced the need to view this region from a different perspective,” he said.
He added that Nepal would seek to link the risks facing the Himalayan region with climate adaptation, loss and damage, and climate justice through effective implementation mechanisms.
As part of its preparations, the government plans to organize a national conference on November 12, bringing together representatives from relevant ministries, foreign diplomatic missions in Nepal, development partners, civil society and the private sector to finalize the country’s position ahead of COP-31.
Nepal’s national position paper and policy documents on climate change will be made public at COP-31, said Dr. Maheshwor Dhakal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment and head of the Climate Change Management Division.
He said the national position paper would be finalized by incorporating suggestions from stakeholders and views expressed by the international community.
The paper will cover the conservation of the Himalayan region, climate adaptation, carbon emission reduction and the potential impacts of global warming on the Himalayas, he added.
“The disasters in the Bhotekoshi and Budhigandaki regions have further highlighted the impacts of climate change and the risks of climate-related disasters in the Himalayan region,” Dhakal said. He added that disasters in Melamchi, Thame, Manang, Mustang, Kanchanpur and Ilam had also exposed the challenges posed by climate change.
The ministry said preparations were underway to include representatives of civil society, the private sector and the media alongside the government delegation to highlight Nepal’s climate risks and conservation efforts before the international community.
Nepal will establish a pavilion at the conference venue at a site provided by the Turkish government. According to Dhakal, the pavilion will showcase disasters in the Bhotekoshi region and other areas, the vulnerability of the Himalayan region, the impacts of climate change and the challenges facing Nepal through discussions, photographs and videos.
The ministry is also working with development partners and non-governmental organizations to mobilize the funds needed to establish the pavilion.
Nepal has raised the issue of climate justice at various international forums, including the Group of Least Developed Countries, the United Nations and COP conferences. The ministry said the country’s priorities at COP-31 would also reflect the commitment to climate justice expressed by Prime Minister Balendra Shah at the United Nations General Assembly and the issues raised by Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal at the pre-COP conference.
Dhakal said negotiations were underway at the international level to secure immediate assistance for Nepal from the Loss and Damage Fund to support relief and rehabilitation following climate-induced disasters. He added that an announcement based on Nepal’s submitted claim was expected by COP-31.
Climate expert Kushal Gurung said Nepal should expand access to international climate finance and strengthen carbon trading to address climate change impacts and recover from disaster-related losses.
He said Nepal should prioritize mobilizing climate finance, addressing loss and damage, and promoting carbon trading. One of the major challenges, he noted, was securing adequate resources to implement the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0).
Gurung emphasized the need to mobilize grants and concessional financing to expand access to climate funds without increasing the country’s debt burden. He also called on Nepal to seek international support for climate-related losses by presenting evidence-based assessments of recent disasters in the Bhotekoshi region and other affected areas.
“Securing adequate support for post-disaster relief and reconstruction through disaster relief funds is challenging. Nepal should therefore advocate for financial mechanisms that can be mobilized immediately during disasters and funds that provide rapid assistance,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation with other countries to promote carbon trading as a means of mobilizing climate finance. According to Gurung, Nepal could attract greater investment and international cooperation by providing clear information about its carbon trading potential, investment opportunities, project locations and the necessary legal framework.
Comment