Kathmandu: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shishir Khanal has stressed the need to make early warning system more effective, reliable and community-centric to minimize human and physical loss due to climate-related disasters.

Addressing a high-level programme on ‘Early Warnings for All: Delivering on Our Promise to Protect Everyone’ organized on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye today, Minister Khanal said early warning system is an important safety net for the mountain communities between life and risk.

Sharing his experience of the recent climate-related disasters in Nepal, Minister Khanal said, “In the early days of the disaster, our early warning system sent millions of SMS messages and the communities in the downstream areas even received warnings issued at the local level. But that was not enough. ´

Foreign Minister Khanal pointed out the need to fill the gaps in the high-altitude weather and climate observation system in the mountainous regions with complex geographical features. He said that for this, the technology of collecting and transmitting real-time data, the satellite-based system and monitoring of the cryosphere should be expanded.

Minister Khanal said that the issue of timely dissemination of information to the vulnerable communities should be given first priority to ensure the effectiveness of the early warning system. He stressed on the need to disseminate warnings in local language and through easy means and to carry out necessary preparations and response works before a possible disaster occurs.

Foreign Minister Khanal underscored the need for further enhancing cross-border data exchange and regional cooperation as per Nepal’s concept of “From Sagarmatha to Sea” (Sagarmatha to Sea).

Minister Khanal called on the international community to provide predictable, accessible and grant-based climate finance to ensure the safety of all communities.

He also underscored the need for further expanding global solidarity, collaboration and collective efforts to deal with the series of disasters caused by climate change.