Kathmandu, 12 Sep: As the impacts of climate change on Nepal’s mountains and people continue to intensify, Nepal is preparing to make its case for climate justice at the United Nations. Nepal will participate in the 81st session of the UN General Assembly under the leadership of Prime Minister Balendra Shah.
At the General Assembly, Prime Minister Shah is expected to draw the international community’s attention to the suffering Nepal has endured, and continues to endure, as a result of climate change and rising global temperatures. He will call on the international community to pave the way for long-term climate justice for countries such as Nepal that contribute little to global emissions but bear some of the heaviest consequences.
Responding to questions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ regular press briefing on Friday, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai said preliminary discussions were underway with experts regarding the possibility of putting forward a proposal on climate justice.
Nepal will actively participate in the high-level General Debate of the General Assembly, scheduled for September 22–28. According to Secretary Rai, Prime Minister Shah will address the General Assembly on September 24.
Nepal is currently suffering irreparable losses following the glacial flood in the Bhotekoshi River, triggered by the collapse of a large section of a Himalayan glacier. Rai said the disaster had further demonstrated that Nepal remains on the front line of the global climate crisis.
“Although Nepal makes a negligible contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, countries like Nepal are among those suffering the most from their adverse impacts,” he said.
Prime Minister Shah will use his address to highlight how Nepal, despite its negligible carbon emissions, continues to face the devastating consequences of climate change. In this context, he is expected to call on the international community to ensure that Nepal receives immediate and appropriate compensation through mechanisms such as the UN’s Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage.
Prime Minister Shah will also appeal to wealthy and developed countries to provide Nepal with accessible and concessional technology and climate finance to build climate-resilient infrastructure, promote climate-friendly agriculture and strengthen the capacity of relevant stakeholders.
He will also inform the international community about Nepal’s significant contribution to global climate and environmental protection through its nature-friendly lifestyle, conservation of more than 46 percent of its forest cover, vast Himalayan region and extensive river systems.
Nepal to Host Separate Side Event
Nepal will organize a separate side event during the UN General Assembly. According to Foreign Secretary Rai, the event will be held under the theme “From Everest to the Sea: A Call for a Climate-Resilient Future.”
The session will focus on the adverse impacts of global climate change on Nepal’s Himalayan regions and the devastating consequences resulting from them, with the aim of drawing greater international attention to the issue.
During his visit, Prime Minister Shah is also expected to hold meetings and discussions with his counterparts from various countries as well as senior United Nations officials.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal will also participate actively in various sessions of the General Assembly. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he is scheduled to address ministerial-level meetings of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Non-Aligned Movement, Group of 77 and China, among others.
Minister Khanal is also expected to hold meetings with his counterparts from neighboring and other friendly countries, as well as senior UN officials.
The high-level delegation accompanying Prime Minister Shah to the General Assembly will include Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Prime Minister’s Chief Adviser Kumar Byanjankar, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai and other senior government officials, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
