Kathmandu. Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has stated that Nepal’s issues regarding climate change must be established before the world based on facts.
Speaking at a meeting of the International Relations and Tourism Committee under the House of Representatives held at Singha Durbar on Thursday, Minister Khanal said that emotional appeals alone would not yield results in international forums, and thus Nepal’s issues must be established based on data, evidence, and scientific facts.
He informed that a delegation led by the Prime Minister will participate in the United Nations General Assembly next week. He emphasized the need to integrate studies and research conducted domestically and internationally regarding the Himalayan region to bring uniformity to the national stance. He stated that cross-border cooperation for risk reduction and special attention to disaster preparedness are necessary.
He expressed the view that collective reconsideration of development strategies is necessary as natural disasters have dealt a severe blow to the model of Nepal’s prosperity built over the past 25-30 years. He stated that long-term achievements cannot be gained merely by giving speeches at international forums, hence institutional strengthening is required.
He said that climate diplomacy is currently limited to the scope of the Ministry of Environment, and the situation where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not been able to be institutionally active needs to be improved by creating an integrated government mechanism.
Similarly, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai informed that the Prime Minister is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on October 24 and hold a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Raising the context of the devastating flood in the Bhote Koshi river in Rasuwa, which caused great loss of life and property, he said that the fact that Nepal is at high risk of climate change will be presented.
He mentioned that the world community will be made aware of the disproportionate impact Nepal is facing despite its negligible contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. He informed that a call will be made to the world community for immediate and appropriate compensation from the Loss and Damage fund and for climate justice.