Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh has voiced Nepal’s concerns over the impacts of climate change, calling for climate justice. Singh attended the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo, Egypt, where he highlighted the climate crisis affecting Nepal.
Nepal recently approved a National Adaptation Plan, which requires USD 47.4 billion to implement 64 programs through 2050, though the government can only contribute USD 1.5 billion. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the need for global support and easy access to innovative adaptation financing arrangements to address Nepal’s climate challenges.
Nepal is also preparing for COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 10, where it will advocate for climate justice. President Ramchandra Paudel will lead a high-level Nepali delegation to the 29th UN Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29) at the invitation of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
President Paudel is scheduled to address the two-day ‘World Leaders Climate Action Summit’ on November 12. Nepal will also host a high-level session under President Paudel’s leadership on November 13 to draw global attention to its climate agenda. A dedicated high-level meeting on “Addressing Climate Loss and Damage in Mountainous Regions” is also planned during the conference.
At the summit, Nepal will share details of the damages caused by severe floods and landslides in areas like Melamchi, Mustang, Kanchanpur, Thame, and the Kathmandu Valley. As a party to the UNFCCC, Nepal is committed to implementing its National Adaptation Program by 2050.
By – Sweta Singh (Kathmandu)