Nepal should showcase its best practices, such as forest conservation, investments in clean energy, and the promotion of hydropower, more prominently on the international stage. Additionally, it is crucial to urge developed nations to fulfill their commitments to loss and damage funding and to enhance small countries’ access to climate finance for adaptation efforts.
Climate change and its devastating effects have long been a subject of global concern. In this context, the 29th Conference of Parties (COP-29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recently concluded in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Nepal, a country highly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, faces significant risks and devastating losses annually. The melting of glaciers, floods, landslides, and inundations caused by extreme rainfall result in irreparable damage to lives and property. This year alone, unseasonal rains triggered catastrophic floods and landslides from October 10–12, causing severe loss of life even in the Kathmandu Valley. It is deeply ironic that Nepal, despite being one of the world’s lowest carbon emitters, endures such severe consequences of climate change. Platforms like COP are vital for Nepal to highlight its challenges and advocate for its needs in a strong and strategic manner.
The predominantly mountainous and hilly terrain of Nepal makes it especially susceptible to climate-induced risks such as melting glaciers, erratic rainfall, landslides, and temperature fluctuations, all of which significantly impact people’s lives and the economy. Nepal, rich in biodiversity and natural resources, is increasingly at risk due to climate change. At COP-29, Nepal raised its voice for climate justice, emphasizing its plight and urging the international community to acknowledge its suffering.
President Ramchandra Paudel, in his address to the high-level session of world leaders, emphasized that protecting the mountains equates to protecting the planet. He cautioned that the transformation of Nepal’s white mountains into blackened, ice-free peaks would not only devastate mountainous regions but also imperil low-lying coastal nations. He called for the immediate operationalization of the loss and damage fund to support developing nations facing climate risks. Furthermore, he stressed the need for proper evaluation and compensation for Nepal’s contributions to preserving mountains, clean water, and biodiversity. While Nepal succeeded in highlighting its vulnerabilities, the quest for climate justice and appropriate compensation remains unresolved.
Representing a country like Nepal in forums such as COP demands consistent preparation, diplomacy, and strategic negotiation. The insufficient preparations for COP-29 highlight the need for greater prioritization of climate advocacy by Nepal’s government. Although the President incorporated some suggestions from stakeholders into his address, the lack of thorough preparation reflects the government’s failure to recognize the critical importance of these global negotiations.
Lessons can be drawn from Nepal’s positive diplomatic efforts at COP-28 in Dubai. The then Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, effectively highlighted Nepal’s zero contribution to climate change and the unjust suffering it endures. This effort garnered global attention, leading to Nepal being recognized as a priority nation for climate finance. The organization of high-level roundtable discussions and the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Nepal further strengthened this momentum. Guterres’s observations of climate impacts in the Himalayan region sent a powerful message to the world.
Regardless of political leadership, Nepal must consistently advocate for climate change mitigation and adaptation on global platforms. Establishing a permanent mechanism within Nepal to address climate change issues, alongside a multilateral negotiating team led by the government, is imperative. As Nepal transitions into a developing nation, it must prioritize strategic discussions on climate justice and improve its access to climate finance.
With 45% of its land covered by forests, Nepal makes a significant contribution to global biodiversity and ecosystem balance. However, climate change threatens these critical resources. Nepal should amplify its focus on linking mountains, people, and climate change at every international forum like COP. Adequate financing, technology, and capacity-building support are essential to mitigate these risks. Yet, the limited financial assistance available poses a challenge to implementing necessary plans. It is crucial to emphasize that such assistance should be in the form of grants and compensation, not loans.
The Paris Agreement calls for ambitious action to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Commitments, such as doubling climate adaptation funds, must be realized, with a focus on improving the livelihoods of women, youth, and indigenous peoples. Additionally, global goals on adaptation, periodic reviews, new collective climate finance targets, and the mobilization of resources require urgent attention.
Nepal should also highlight its achievements in forest conservation, clean energy investment, and hydropower promotion on the international stage. Developed nations must be urged to fulfill their commitments to loss and damage funding while facilitating climate finance for small nations. Encouraging investment and technology transfer in hydropower and solar energy would not only boost clean energy production but also create jobs and foster economic growth. Finally, Nepal must advocate for ambitious carbon reduction targets globally, emphasizing that developed nations bear greater responsibility for leading these efforts.
Source: Kantipur
