KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 7

Nepal's preparations for the 29th UN Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29), scheduled from November 11–22 in Baku, Azerbaijan, have entered the final phase.

The Ministry of Forests and Environment announced that all necessary groundwork is complete. A team comprising three joint secretaries and experts from the Ministry arrived in Baku last week to attend pre-conference meetings and finalize preparations.

To strengthen its presence at the conference, the Ministry has outlined priority agenda items. Forests and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri stated that Nepal will focus on climate adaptation, loss and damage, climate finance, technology transfer and development, and capacity building.

A national status paper has been prepared based on issues raised in previous conferences, international forums, parliamentary committee guidance, and stakeholder input from a series of consultations. In particular, the topics of loss and damage, mountain ecosystems, and climate finance have been emphasized in the paper.

Nepal's delegation to COP29 will be led by President Ramchandra Paudel, who is scheduled to address the World Leaders' Climate Action Summit. On November 13, President Paudel will also lead a separate high-level session to draw global attention to Nepal's agenda.

The UNFCCC has granted Nepal permission to hold a high-level meeting on 'Addressing Climate Loss and Damage in Mountainous Regions' during the conference. This meeting will include UN representatives, officials from mountainous countries, development partners, and other relevant stakeholders.

Nepal plans to share data on the damages from recent monsoon-related disasters in Melamchi, Mustang, Kanchanpur, Thame, and the Kathmandu Valley.

The country has seen a marked shift in monsoon patterns, with increased intensity, scale, and unpredictable timing linked to climate change. This year alone, Nepal experienced glacier lake outbursts, unexpected landslides, and severe flooding, leading to significant loss of life and property.

Nepal is among the nations most vulnerable to climate change. In response, it has advocated for its climate concerns on international platforms and committed to ambitious emissions reductions and adaptation strategies.

In 2020, Nepal submitted its second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and, in 2022, its National Adaptation Plan (NAP), both detailing its emission reduction and adaptation goals.

Additionally, Nepal has implemented its Third National Communication Report, National Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment Report, Long-term Low Emission Development Strategy, National Loss and Damage Framework (in 2021), and the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (in 2023). Climate adaptation, resilience, and green economic development are also key objectives of Nepal's 16th Periodic Plan.

At COP26, Nepal announced ambitious goals, including expanding forest coverage to 45% by 2030 and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.

Having met its afforestation targets ahead of schedule, Nepal now calls for accessible and adequate climate financing, along with international cooperation, to support its ambitious green and resilient development goals.