Prez Paudel addresses high-level session under COP29, urges global action on climate change 

BAKU, AZERBAIJAN: President Ramchandra Paudel has drawn global attention to the issues of climate change and poverty.

Addressing a high-level session organised by Kyrgyzstan during the ongoing COP29 in Baku today, President Paudel emphasised that an integrated approach is essential to ensure justice for those affected by climate change.

"The youth from mountainous countries have migrated elsewhere due to the impact of climate change, while the poor, women, children, and the elderly suffer the most. Programmes to alleviate poverty and address climate change must be launched together to tackle these twin issues," he stated.

He further highlighted that climate change is largely caused by activities such as carbon emissions from developed countries, but it is the poor people from mountainous regions who bear the brunt. "I hope COP29 will succeed in guaranteeing justice for the victims," President Paudel remarked.

As climate change indicators break records every year, people in mountainous regions are forced to live in harsh conditions, he said. He added that more than 35 households in Thame village of Solukhumbu district were displaced due to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) in Nepal last August. Similarly, floods and landslides during the monsoon claimed over 500 lives.

"The suffering and trauma caused by these disasters are enduring. Proper evaluation and further preparedness are imperative to minimise loss and damage," he said.

According to him, both Nepal and Kyrgyzstan, being mountainous countries, share similar plights when it comes to climate change. The event was also addressed by the presidents of Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, among others.