KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ emphasized Nepal’s rightful claim to climate justice, citing the country’s negligible contribution to the global climate crisis compared to other nations.
“Nepal’s carbon emissions are almost negligible on a global scale, yet we bear the disproportionate and hazardous consequences of climate change directly,” he emphasized.
Addressing a conference on climate change and the role of parliamentarians in sustainable development on Friday in Kathmandu, PM Dahal highlighted the significant challenge climate change poses to socio-economic and environmental equilibrium.
Dahal underscored that climate crisis is evolving into a global threat, disproportionately affecting the least developed countries and impeding development prospects.
He lamented the severe impact of climate change-induced disasters such as landslides, floods, fires, avalanches, and droughts on Nepalese citizens, emphasizing the urgent need for international economic and technical assistance.
“The citizens of vulnerable countries facing such disasters urgently require economic and technical assistance, and the international community must pay heed,” stated the PM.
Dahal expressed concern about significant financial and technical shortcomings in climate change reduction efforts, urging the mobilization of additional resources for effective climate action implementation.
The Prime Minister called for the implementation of locally compatible plans for climate adaptation and stressed the importance of global discussions among parliamentarians and policymakers to advocate for climate justice and ensure a sustainable future for ecosystems, humanity, and the Earth.
Highlighting the need for enforcing the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, PM Dahal urged the fulfillment of the USD 100 billion climate finance commitment through the Green Climate Fund.
He emphasized simplifying access procedures for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to the Green Climate Fund to accelerate climate actions.
During his address, Dahal reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to clean energy and maintaining a 45% forest coverage, stating, “Nepal is fully committed to the Paris Agreement, aiming for zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.”
