KATHMANDU: Nepal's participation in the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, under President Ramchandra Paudel's leadership has been fruitful, as the nation strongly voiced its major agendas on addressing climate change consequences.
Addressing a news conference organized at the VVIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport today upon President Paudel's arrival home after attending the COP29 in the Azerbaijani capital, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amrit Bahadur Rai, said the President's participation has further augmented the topics on climate change like 'the climate has to be protected with the unified sentiments from the Himalayas to the seas' that Nepal has been raising over the years.
"The President's visit has further supported in highlighting Nepal's view that the world community should increase the assistance in terms of technology and funds for the climate financing, reducing loss and damage and minimizing the sufferings of the least developed countries due to climate change impact," he said.
Spokesperson Rai said the President gave the message that Nepal is to host the 'Sagarmatha Sambad' or the 'Everest Dialogue' to forge a single voice calling for addressing the relationship from the Himalayas to the Oceans in an integrated way, and invited the world community to participate in the Dialogue.
According to him, the topic 'Protection of the Himalayas is Protecting the Earth' that the President raised in every forum, representing the common sentiment of the mountainous countries, has been found to be effective.
While in Azerbaijan, President Paudel participated in the inaugural session of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit on November 12 and addressed the event as the leader of the Nepali delegation.
Delivering the national statement at the Summit, the President reminded the global community that Nepal has been facing terrible consequences of global warming and climate change despite its negligible emissions. He also underlined the importance of climate justice, adequate climate finance, and reparations for loss and damage.
The President underlined the importance of integrated approach and broader collaboration among mountainous and coastal countries as there is a linkage from mountains to the sea. He highlighted that protecting the Himalayas is protecting ourselves and the entire humanity across the planet.
Besides, in the margins of the Summit, the President also held a meeting with his Maldivian counterpart, Dr Mohamed Muizzu. Matters related to strengthening the bilateral relations, as well as cooperation on regional and multilateral issues were discussed at the meeting.
On November 13, the President addressed the 'High Level Dialogue: Advancing the Mountain Agenda and Mainstreaming Mountains and Climate Change within UNFCCC'organized by Kyrgyz Republic at the sidelines of COP29.
In his address to the High Level Dialogue, President Paudel stressed that integrated programmes on poverty reduction and climate action should be implemented in the mountain region. He underscored the importance of the Himalayas in ecological and environmental balanced and urged for mainstreaming mountain issues in global mountain agenda.
In the afternoon the same day, he chaired a high-level event titled 'Mountains in Peril: Loss and Damage in the Himalaya,' organized by the Government of Nepal, the Ministry of Forests and Environment. Delivering his concluding remarks in the event, he stressed on the fact that mountains, particularly the Himalaya, are facing higher loss and damage due to their fragility. He also emphasized the need to build unity among mountainous nations and to raise unified voice in global forums for addressing the problem.
President also participated in a meeting of Heads of Delegation of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the sidelines of COP29. In the meeting he urged the United Nations to intensify efforts for availing financial, technological and other forms of support to the LDCs and other developing countries to fight the impacts of global warming and climate change.
The President utilized the meeting to urge the UN Secretary-General to make the developed countries serious about the impact of climate change.
President Paudel and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan held a bilateral meeting on November 14. On the occasion, President Poudel thanked his Azerbaijani counterpart for organizing the COP29 successfully. The two Presidents also exchanged views on strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.
Spokesperson Rai said that the Nepali delegation, under the leadership of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, will actively participate in the dialogues and discussions on thematic issues related to climate change and the documents to be passed therein, ensuring Nepal's national interest.
COP29 commenced on November 11 and it will continue until November 22. President Paudel had reached Baku on last Monday, leading the high-level delegation to the conference at the invitation of the Azerbaijan President Aliyev.
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