UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, currently on a four-day visit to Nepal, is scheduled to address a joint session of the Federal Parliament on Tuesday.
Guterres is expected to address critical issues such as climate change, the peace process, and the current political situation in Nepal during his speech to the House. Expressing concerns about the rapidly changing climate in Nepal, the UN Secretary-General said on Sunday that the country’s glaciers were melting at an alarming rate and the situation was both “dire and accelerating”.
On Monday, Guterres called for ending the “madness” that is adversely affecting the glaciers. He stated: “Today from the base of Mt. Everest, I saw for myself the terrible impact of the climate crisis on the Himalayas. As temperatures rise, glacier melt increases – threatening the lives and livelihoods of entire communities. Climate action can’t wait. “
During his visit, Guterres has been engaging with Nepal’s top political leaders, with discussions centering on finalizing Nepal’s transitional justice process, addressing the climate crisis, and the Himalayan country’s role in United Nations peacekeeping efforts.