Nepal in preparing for COP 27

Nepal is preparing for its presentations and showcasing in the COP27, which will be held during Nov 6 – 18, 2022in Sharm-El Sheikh in Egypt.

Nepal is a Party to the UNFCCC and has ratified the Paris Agreement. Nepal as a Least Developed Country (LDC) has a high stake in the outcome of the UNFCCC negotiations process so it has been actively participating in the COP negotiation process.

The country has ensured a favourable policy environment for dealing with climate change issues. The government endorsed the National Climate Change Policy 2019, Environment Protection Act and Regulations 2019, National Framework for Local Adaptation Plan of Action, 2019, Climate Resilient Planning and Budgeting Guidelines 2020, GESI and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan 2020, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 2020,  Third National Communication Report 2021, National Vulnerability and Risk Assessment 2021, National Adaptation Plan (SPM), 2021, and Long Term Low Greenhouse Gases Emission Development Strategy 2021 and finalized the second NDC Implementation Plan.

Nepal has demonstrated strong leadership in taking domestic climate action and inviting development partners and stakeholders to be part of this journey recognizing that the participation of all relevant stakeholders is very crucial to contributing toward the implementation of the National Climate Change Policy and action plans.

COP27 is expected to build on previous successes and pave the way for future ambition. COP27 will be a moment for countries to fulfil their pledges and commitments toward delivering the objectives of the Paris Agreement to enhance the implementation of the Convention.

The Government of Nepal during COP 26 announced its world-leading commitment to i) Remain cumulatively ‘net zero carbon’ from 2022-2045 and become carbon negative after that; ii) Halt deforestation and maintain forest cover to 45% by 2030, and iii) Ensure all vulnerable people are protected from climate change by 2030. These commitments have made Nepal among the highest climate ambition countries in the world. Along with these commitments, Nepal has estimated about 46 billion USD is needed by 2030 to meet its adaptation and mitigation targets.

The Government of Nepal aims to engage more strategically and effectively at the national and international levels to raise awareness of the needs and priorities of Nepal, especially the mountain agenda. With this Nepal has an unprecedented opportunity to ensure its heightened international profile on climate change and in leveraging and mainstreaming non-traditional and low carbon financing. Also, it is important to ensure that UNFCCC policies and funding instruments will be of benefit to Nepal. In this regard, MoFE aims to organize a round-table discussion with key partners and stakeholders to discuss on the aspects of strategic engagement in the COP27 and develop an understanding of priorities and shaping up Nepal’s position in COP27.

Nepal Government Ministry of Forest and Environment organised a round table discussion to this effect on September 01, 2022 in Kathmandu with objective to the discussion programme is to draw upon perspectives from different stakeholders including government agencies, development partners, private sector, civil society, youth, and community-based organizations representing women, marginalized and ethnic communities.

Addressing the round table meeting of stakeholders on preparation of COP27, Minister for Forest and environment PradeepYadav said that Nepal Government is considering on ‘imposing climate crisis’ to focus more on preventions of social, economic and natural disasters caused by climate change effects. Necessary homework is in progress, he informed. The forth coming COP27 should consider supporting Nepal technically and financially, he added.

Nepal Government Minister for Forest and Environment Pradeep Yadav, Secretary Dr. Pem Narayan Kandel, Dr. Madhav Karki, Climate Change and Environment Advisor to the Prime Minister, Saloni Singh Pradhan, Member of National Planning Commission, Noha Hamdy El Gebaly, Ambassador, Embassy of Arab Republic of Egypt, Ms. Ayshanie Labe, Resident Representative, UNDP, Director General of ICIMOD Pema Gyamtsho spoke on the preparing of Nepal for COP27 with suggestions and opinion for the successful presentation and showcasing the Nepal status and showcasing.

Participants representation private sector, academia, relevant NGOs, INGOs threw various ideas and views to incorporate in the Nepal’s list of actions. Most of the private voiced on need of access to climate finance for adaptation and mitigation plants. The participants also stressed on need of strong lobby for loss and damage caused on nature and human as a result of climate change effects. That should be fairly evaluated and compensated as Nepal contribute GHG at a nominal level, but untimely rains, landslides and draught not only cause life and injuries bit also cause livelihood of people in the mountains and also threat socio-cultural assets.  Similarly, participants advised Nepal Government not take any loan for climate actions but lobby strongly for grant as support for loss and damage to recover or resilience.