The Nepal Weekly 
October 29, 2024
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that Nepal needs to lead in climate-related issues. He said this addressing the National Climate Conference organized by the Ministry of Forest and Environment in Kathmandu Saturday (Oct 26). PM Oli realized that there is no dedicated ministry for climate change affairs so far to handle. However, the government has been working in climate-related fields even though no dedicated ministry on climate.
PM Oli said, “Today, we are discussing the position, our stance, and our approach, especially in terms of preparations for COP 29. I am confident that this conference will provide appropriate and adequate answers to these issues.”
He further said that Nepal is the country that can prevent the effects of climate change the most. This country has been taking a strong stance on issues of climate finance and climate justice.
PM Oli added, “Nepal has been leading on climate issues in almost all international forums. This is the land that has the most stakeholders, the most impacted, most affected, and has the ability to prevent the impact.” He elaborated that the upcoming global climate conference (COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024 will clearly and strongly emphasise the concept of “From Mountains to the Sea.”
Prime Minister Oli said that Nepal’s stance on climate justice, presented at the 79th United Nations General Assembly, will be more effectively expressed at COP 29. He stressed that the ruling coalition, which includes the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and Nepali Congress, both with a history of movements for change, will not let democracy falter.
The third meeting of the National Council for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Management, held on Friday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, resolved to prepare a clear stance on Nepal’s climate perspective for COP 29. The Nepali delegation, led by President Ramchandra Paudel, is set to participate in the global event.
Prime Minister Oli said that Nepal’s mountains contribute to global temperature balance and that protecting these mountains from carbon emissions is in the world’s interest. He stressed that Nepal should receive fair compensation from high-emission countries.
Dr. Sindhu Prasad Dhungana, chief of the Climate Management Division at Ministry of Forest and Environment, said that the conference was organised to make COP 29, scheduled from November 11 to 22, meaningful.
This conference would gather suggestions for issues to be presented at COP 29, enhancing Nepal’s participation and furthering our national agenda, said Dr. Dhungana. He also said that the conference discussions would help make the agenda for COP-29 more impactful.
Moreover, the existing Ministry of Forests and Environment has been decided to be renamed as the Ministry of Forests, Environment, and Climate Change. But it needs to be formalized by the Cabinet meeting, san expert member of the council has said. The decision to rename was made to address the increasing challenges of climate change, showing Nepal’s sensitivity toward climate issues.
