President Paudel and his Azerbaijani counterpart hold bilateral meeting

BAKU: President Ramchandra Paudel has urged all the developed countries to fulfill their commitment made to addressing the climate change impact.

President Paudel made this call during the bilateral meeting with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev here today.

"Nepal has its full commitment to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Since Nepal has set the target of achieving the 'zero carbon emission' milestone by 2045, five years ahead of the globally-set target, we urge all the developed countries to fulfill their commitments that they have expressed in connection to addressing the climate change consequences," Kiran Pokharel, the President's Press Advisor, quoted President Paudel as saying in the bilateral meeting.

President Paudel said that although Nepal's carbon emission is negligible, it has been bearing big impact of climate change.

Stating that the snow in the Himalayas is melting rapidly, the water sources for the people living in the downstream region are decreasing and there is big loss of lives and property every year due to the climate change-induced natural disasters every year, he recalled that this year also Nepal had to suffer huge loss of lives and property due to the unseasonal heavy downpour.

"The government is having to divert a large portion of its budget each year for providing relief support to the population affected by the climate change impact," President Paudel said.

Noting that Nepal and Azerbaijan did not only share geographical similarities due to their mountainous terrain and land-locked condition, but also have similar structural challenges and effects that the mountainous countries are facing, he said, "Climate change is the common challenge of the whole world; our two countries which are mountainous are suffering from the adverse impact of climate change. I urge the Azerbaijani government for solidarity in Nepal's initiatives as it has been raising, in various international forums, including in COP, issues that the mountainous countries face due to climate change."

President Paudel on the occasion praised Azerbaijan for the extensive development and economic transformation it has achieved since its independence in 1991.

He said that Nepal is at present moving ahead on the path of economic development following the political changes and the government's priority is sustainable economic development. "We cannot institutionalize the political achievements that we have gained without economic transformation and development," he added.

President Paudel congratulated his Azerbaijani counterpart for the full success of the COP-29 that is organized under his able leadership, expressing the belief that the Declaration to be passed by COP-29 will protect the rights and interest of Nepal-like countries that emit negligible carbon into the atmosphere but have to suffer much from the climate change effects.

He drew the attention of Azerbaijan to the good investment opportunity in Nepal in the agriculture, tourism and water resources sectors.

During the meeting, President Aliyev of Azerbaijan stated that he would work closely with Nepal on climate change issues in the context of his presidency of the COP for one year more, according to Pokharel, the President Paudel's press advisor.

President Aliyev said that his country was positive to invest in the sectors to be proposed by Nepal.

During the meeting, the Azerbaijani President said that Azerbaijan would serve as the COP Chair for the next one year, suggesting a closer cooperation with Nepal for climate action, according to the President's advisor.

 The President of Azerbaijan also said that they are positive for an investment in areas to be proposed by Nepal.

Nepal and Azerbaijan had established the diplomatic ties in 1995. Both countries cooperate in the multi-sectoral forum including the UN on sustainable development and climate change, the shared issues of both nations.

President Paudel on Tuesday addressed the "World Leaders Climate Action Summit" a high-level session held under the ongoing COP29.

 During the conference, Nepal on Wednesday hosted a separate high-level special session on "Addressing Loss and Damage in Mountains," drawing the global attention to its agenda of concerns. The President hoped that such discussions would help find a better understanding of the issue and explore practical solutions.

He also addressed an event organized by Kyrgyzstan.

He also attended the group meeting held by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres with the Heads of State and Government of underdeveloped countries who gathered in Baku to take part in the COP 29 conference. The President utilized the meeting to urge the UN Secretary-General to make the developed countries serious about the impact of climate change.

The conference that commenced on November 11 will continue until November 22. President Paudel landed in Baku on last Monday, leading the high-level delegation to the conference. He is today scheduled to leave Baku for Doha of Qatar en route to home. He will reach Kathmandu on Friday morning.

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