NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir called for stronger global solidarity and international cooperation to address the growing risks posed by climate change and climate-related disasters.
The two foreign ministers held a bilateral meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on Thursday, on the sidelines of the high-level session of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
During the meeting, they exchanged views on the severe economic and humanitarian costs of climate-related disasters, including the loss of life and property caused by the recent Bhote Koshi floods in Nepal. They also discussed the increasing risks associated with climate change, particularly for countries with limited capacity and resources to respond to disasters.
The ministers emphasized the need for coordinated action at all levels of government and across society to ensure timely relief, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction in disaster-affected communities.
They also stressed the importance of mobilizing government and social mechanisms to support affected communities in the immediate aftermath of disasters while advancing long-term reconstruction efforts.
Both sides underscored that stronger global solidarity and international cooperation are needed to address the escalating impacts of climate change, capacity gaps and resource constraints, and to strengthen countries’ ability to prepare for and respond to climate-related disasters.