KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shishir Khanal inaugurated the Nepal Pavilion at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey on Monday.

The Nepal Pavilion has been set up with the objective of presenting Nepal’s climate ambitions, achievements in biodiversity conservation and adaptation efforts at the community level to the international community.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the pavilion, Foreign Minister Khanal drew the attention of the international community to the climate-related risks and challenges faced by the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. He expressed concern over the risks arising due to changes in the cryosphere and snow, glaciers and frozen water systems in the Himalayan region.

Terming the recent catastrophic Bhotekoshi disaster caused by climate change as a ‘Himalayan Tsunami’, he said the countries like Nepal were facing disproportionately high risk and damages.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Khanal stressed the need for international partnership and collaboration to ensure climate justice, establish easy access of affected countries to Loss and Damage Fund and enhance the resilience of mountain regions.

He said that global cooperation is imperative for the protection of the communities living in the downstream areas along with the protection of the Himalayan region.

Minister for Health and Food Security, Nisha Mehta, Member of the House of Representatives, Sagar Dhakal, and other distinguished representatives from different sectors also addressed the inaugural ceremony.