Nepal to raise climate change issues impacting Himalayas at COP31

Kathmandu, Oct 29 (PTI) Nepal on Thursday said it will raise issues related to climate change and its impact on the Himalayan ecosystem at the upcoming COP31 climate conference.

     Addressing the National Climate Summit-2026 in Kathmandu, Nepal's Foreign Minister Shirish Khanal said the country will put forward four major priorities at COP31, with issues like climate-induced loss and damage to the Himalayan region, climate finance, and climate justice at the forefront of its agenda.

    He said the impact of climate change on the Himalayas has emerged as a global challenge and is no longer an issue concerning Nepal alone.

     The ecological stability of the Himalayas is closely linked to water, food security, energy and the economy, making the conservation of the mountain ecosystem both a national interest and a shared international responsibility, Khanal said.

     He also said major floods and landslides struck three river corridors in Nepal within six weeks following the devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi corridor on August 26, causing serious damage to lives, property, infrastructure, livelihoods and the economy.

     The flash floods killed around 1,400 people, while more than 5,000 remain missing.

     The preliminary assessment for reconstruction and rehabilitation following the August disaster alone has put the requirement at around USD 4.7 billion, equivalent to about 10 per cent of Nepal's Gross Domestic Product, he said.

     He said the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius holds particular significance for Himalayan countries.

     "Nepal will continue the initiatives advanced through the 'International Expert Dialogue on Mountains, People, and Climate Change' organised in 2024 and the Sagarmatha Dialogue in 2025," Khanal said.

     This would include regular high-level dialogues, a separate Himalayan action plan and advocacy for incorporating the risks facing the Himalayan region into the global climate framework, he added.

     As its second priority, Nepal will push for climate-induced loss and damage to become a key criterion for international solidarity.

     Khanal said an initial agreement had been reached to allocate USD 21.6 billion from the Loss and Damage Fund for Nepal, claiming that the Himalayan nation had become the first country to receive such an allocation.

     Climate finance will be Nepal's third priority, with Kathmandu seeking to make such funding accessible, equitable and responsive to national needs.

     According to Nepal's Third Nationally Determined Contribution, the country will require around USD 18 billion to USD 20 billion for adaptation between 2025 and 2035, Khanal said.

     Climate justice will be the fourth major issue Nepal will raise at the conference.

     Khanal said that although Nepal's contribution to global emissions is low, the country has suffered significant climate-related losses while contributing to global environmental stability through the conservation of forests, glaciers and the Himalayan ecosystem.

     He also called for meaningful participation of women, children, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and marginalised communities in climate change-related decision-making processes.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)