न्यूज अभियान
हरेक खबर विशेष खबर

Kathmandu, Aug 12: Government has intensified preparation to prioritize the pressing issues like climate justice and mountain agenda in the forthcoming UN climate conference or COP-31, which is scheduled from November 9 to 20, 2026.

The 31st edition of the Conference of Parties under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held in Antalya, Turkey in coming November. Nepal is preparing the agenda like conservation of mountainous region, climate justice, climate finance and loss and damage (L&D).

Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Gita Chaudhary, shared it before the meeting of the Development, Economic Affairs and Good Governance of the National Assembly on Wednesday. She informed that Nepal would raise the issues of its rights and needs in the upcoming UN climate event, COP-31. Irrespective of having negligible role behind climate change impacts, Nepal is bearing severe brunt. So, the advocacy in international platform for climate justice deserves priority, she added. 

"We have a little role as compared to others in carbon emission, but receiving disproportionate impact of climate change," Minister Chaudhary reiterated, adding that Nepal must raise the agenda of climate finance along with certain goals. Nepal will claim its rights before the developed countries in order to secure financial resources so that it can reduce the impacts of climate change and mobilize budget for climate adaptation. The mountain agenda bears equal significance, according to her. 

Conservation of mountains is essential also because Nepal is a home to many peaks, including the world's tallest peak, Sagarmatha.

The Minister further said togetherness for climate justice is imperative, so collective advocacy would be forwarded. Forging alliance could be considered for reinforcing advocacy, while bilateral meetings for common interest would be continued.

As per the information shared by Minister Chaudhary, the government was planning a formation of a separate committee to effectively enforce Nepal's international commitment on climate change and the resources received for climate action.

"We make agreements on various topics but how effective we're on enforcement counts much," she reminded. She questioned why the agreements on loss and damage and climate finance were not implemented despite Nepal attended several COPs.  

In her opinion, Nepal can advance the agenda of climate justice and climate action with the collaborative efforts of parliament, three tiers of government, policy makers and stakeholders.

The Committee meeting dwelt on the past decisions, agreements and their implementation relating to the COP.