Antalya. Nepal expects that the issues of climate change in the mountains, the impact of climate change, climate finance and adaptation will be included in the final decision of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP-31).

At a press conference organized by the government at the Nepal Pavilion here today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Sishir Khanal shared that although the efforts to include mountaineering issues in the summit’s official agenda were not successful, an agreement was reached to take these topics for continuous discussion.

Nepal and Bhutan had jointly proposed to include the mountain agenda in the official agenda of COP-31. Minister Khanal said that although the proposal could not be approved as a separate agenda, efforts are being made to address the issues included in it through the existing dialogue process and various mechanisms of the conference.

According to him, a positive understanding has been reached with Turkey, which is chairing the COP summit, and Australia, which is co-chairing the upcoming dialogue process.

“We have tried our best to establish our issues in the international forum on the basis of the situation from which we have come here. Although they are not included in the formal agenda, we expect to continue the discussion on these issues and include them in some form or the other in the final decision,” he said.

Minister Khanal said the catastrophic floods and landslides that occurred in mountainous region of Nepal after August 26 and the loss of lives and property caused by it were a serious example of Nepal’s climate risk and drew the attention of the international community.

He said that Nepal has prioritized three issues. First, scientific studies, research and knowledge creation on the impact of temperature rise in the mountainous region to 1.5 degrees Celsius; second, the provision of mountain-specific indicators in a separate action plan and financial structure for the mountain communities; and third, the establishment of a dedicated dialogue process for the mountainous region.

Increasing risk in mountainous areas

Minister Khanal said that the risk to glacial lakes, river systems, settlements, roads, bridges and hydropower projects is increasing due to the rapid rise in temperature in the mountainous region. He said that development of early warning system, disaster preparedness, adaptation and risk reduction measures would be effective if there is adequate study and research on the impact of temperature rise in the mountainous region.

Minister Khanal said that Nepal has been demanding grant-based, easily accessible and predictable financial support regarding climate finance. He stressed that there is a huge gap between the financial commitments made by the developed countries for climate mitigation, adaptation and post-disaster recovery and the real needs of the affected countries.

Nepal has been putting forth its views on the issues of climate change and finance among other groupings including G-77, China and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Dr Rajendra Prasad Mishra stressed on the need of providing adequate and predictable financial assistance in the form of grants to the countries affected by the climate crisis. He also said that the international community should support in technology transfer and capacity building.

Secretary Mishra informed that the Working Group of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) has demanded to increase adaptation finance by at least three times for the implementation of the National Adaptation Plan and the protection of vulnerable communities. He said that such financial assistance should be grant-based and can be directly received by national and local organizations.

Stating that the impact of climate change was most pronounced especially in the high mountainous regions, he said Nepal was committed to the goal of the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius. He was of the view that common voice, collaboration and international solidarity were needed among the affected countries to address the impact of climate change beyond national borders.

Mountain Dialogue to be held in 2027 and 2028

Nepal and Bhutan have agreed on some important issues of the proposal related to the mountain agenda presented at COP-31. According to the proposal, it has been agreed to organize two mountain dialogues in 2027 and 2028.

Similarly, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Chief of Climate Change Management Division, Dr Maheshwor Dhakal, said that agreement has been reached on some important issues in the proposal forwarded jointly by Nepal and Bhutan and efforts were on to incorporate remaining priorities in the conclusion of COP 31.

“We have agreed to hold two mountain dialogues in 2027 and 2028. Efforts are on to reflect the other priorities included in the proposal in the decisions of COP-31,” he said.

According to Joint Secretary Dhakal, in the inaugural session of the COP, various sides including the presidium had raised the special situation and context of Nepal with importance. He said that the views and interventions presented by Nepal while approving the official agenda of the conference have also highlighted the importance of the mountain agenda in the international forum.

Nepal and Bhutan had proposed to include the mountain agenda in the official agenda of the COP to address the increasing impact of climate change in the mountainous and mountainous regions. Although there is no consensus on including it as a separate agenda, efforts are being made to include the mountain issue in various dialogues and decision-making processes.

Nepal has been demanding scientific research on the effects of temperature rise in the mountainous region, enhancing the adaptive capacity of mountain communities, easy access to climate finance and special action plan for the mountainous region.

COP31 is being held in Antalya, Turkey from November 9 to 20.