President's participation in COP29 fruitful in voicing Nepal's concern on climate change

KATHMANDU: Nepal's participation in the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, under President Ramchandra Paudel's leadership, has been fruitful, as the nation strongly voiced its major agendas on addressing climate change consequences.

Addressing a news conference organised at the VVIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) upon President Paudel's arrival home after attending COP29 in the Azerbaijani capital, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amrit Bahadur Rai, said the President's participation has further amplified topics on climate change, like 'the climate must be protected with unified sentiments from the Himalayas to the seas,' that Nepal has been raising over the years.

"The President's visit has further supported highlighting Nepal's view that the world community should increase assistance in terms of technology and funds for climate financing, reducing loss and damage, and minimising the sufferings of the least developed countries due to climate change impact," he said. Spokesperson Rai mentioned that the President conveyed Nepal's intent to host the 'Sagarmatha Sambad' or 'Everest Dialogue' to forge a single voice addressing the relationship from the Himalayas to the oceans in an integrated manner and invited the world community to participate in the Dialogue.

According to him, the topic 'Protection of the Himalayas is Protecting the Earth,' raised by the President in every forum, representing the common sentiment of mountainous countries, has been effective.

While in Azerbaijan, President Paudel participated in the inaugural session of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit on November 12 and addressed the event as the leader of the Nepali delegation. Delivering the national statement at the Summit, the President reminded the global community that Nepal has been facing terrible consequences of global warming and climate change despite its negligible emissions. He also underlined the importance of climate justice, adequate climate finance, and reparations for loss and damage.

The President underscored the importance of an integrated approach and broader collaboration among mountainous and coastal countries, highlighting the link from mountains to the sea. He emphasised that protecting the Himalayas is protecting ourselves and all humanity across the planet.

In addition, on the sidelines of the Summit, the President held a meeting with his Maldivian counterpart, Mohamed Muizzu. They discussed strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation on regional and multilateral issues.

On November 13, the President addressed the 'High-Level Dialogue: Advancing the Mountain Agenda and Mainstreaming Mountains and Climate Change within UNFCCC,' organised by the Kyrgyz Republic at the sidelines of COP29. In his address, President Paudel stressed that integrated programmes on poverty reduction and climate action should be implemented in the mountain regions. He highlighted the importance of the Himalayas in maintaining ecological and environmental balance and urged for mainstreaming mountain issues in the global climate agenda.

Later that day, he chaired a high-level event titled 'Mountains in Peril: Loss and Damage in the Himalaya,' organised by the Government of Nepal, the Ministry of Forests and Environment. In his concluding remarks, he emphasised that mountains, particularly the Himalayas, are facing higher loss and damage due to their fragility. He called for unity among mountainous nations to raise a unified voice in global forums to address this issue.

President Paudel also participated in a meeting of Heads of Delegation of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, on the sidelines of COP29. During the meeting, he urged the United Nations to intensify efforts to provide financial, technological, and other forms of support to LDCs and developing countries to combat the impacts of global warming and climate change.

The President also requested the UN Secretary-General to press developed countries to take the impact of climate change seriously. On November 14, President Paudel and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan held a bilateral meeting, during which President Paudel thanked his Azerbaijani counterpart for successfully organising COP29. The two Presidents also discussed strengthening bilateral relations between their countries.

Spokesperson Rai stated that the Nepali delegation, under the leadership of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, will actively participate in dialogues and discussions on thematic issues related to climate change and the documents to be passed therein, ensuring Nepal's national interest.

President Paudel returned home this morning from Baku, Azerbaijan. Vice President Rasahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Speaker of the House of Representatives Dev Raj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal, and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak welcomed the President at the VVIP Lounge of TIA.

COP29 commenced on November 11 and will continue until November 22.

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