• COP-27
KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 13
Nepal is preparing to attend the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from November 7 to 18.
During the session, Nepal being one of the countries highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change due to its sensitive geography, is preparing to raise the issues concerning the impact of climate change on the mountain region with utmost priority.
Climate change adaptation, damages and losses, and climate finance are among the issues Nepal will be raising with due priority.
Studies show that Nepal's highlands have witnessed the temperature rise by 1.8 degree Celsius when global warming is measured at 1 degree Celsius, the major consequence of greenhouse gas effect.
The impact of climate change on the entire mountainous economy and the ecosystem there, and in the low-lying areas will be the issues of priority for Nepal in the Conference scheduled to be held at Sharm el-Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt.
The event was originally scheduled to take place from8 to 20 November 2021. However, it was rescheduled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nepal will participate in the session with its special priorities on issues such as climate change adaptation and reduction, climate finance, specific issues of mountain region and financing for climate losses and damages, according to the Ministry of Forest and Environment.
The ministry's Climate Change Management Division Chief Buddhisagar Poudel said Nepal had prepared to put up the issues of global goals regarding climate adaptation in COP27.
Nepal believes that developed countries should ensure climate grants and finance for countries like Nepal as per their expectations. In addition to this, it will be demanding additional compensation for losses and damages caused by climate change-induced disasters.
Adaptation means adapting to life in a changing climate while reduction means reducing carbon emissions, the major cause of greenhouse gas effect.
During the COP26, Nepal had pledged allegiance to achieve 'net zero' carbon emissions by 2045. 'Net zero emissions' refers to achieving an overall balance between greenhouse gas emissions produced and greenhouse gas emissions taken out of the atmosphere, according to the Climate Council.
The ministry has already gathered submissions from subject experts in the multi-sectoral and multi-concerned bodies from the government and non-government sectors. It has also organised discussions with sev-eral groups to collect submissions for its preparation before taking part in the summit.
The drafting of the status paper has neared the final phase while the ministry is preparing for side events and talks along with the major event.
Secretary of the Ministry Dr Pem Narayan Kandel said in the Conference that each country would make plan and strategy regarding how to reduce greenhouse gas as a matter of national commitment for implementation of the Paris Agreement.
He said all the countries had already made a plan for adaptation regarding the impacts of global warming, and the conference was important for implementation of the agreement of the Glasgow conference. The temperature has increased due to greenhouse gas emission, resulting in the impacts of climate change. The past conference had determined to reduce greenhouse gas by 45 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
Similarly, in the Glasgow Conference, a proposal was presented to adopt a clean, alternative and renewal energy as greenhouse gas emissions could not be reduced without completely ending the use of coal. But, an understanding was reached on phasing down coal use after countries like China, India, South Africa, Brazil and Iran made their stances clear.
Secretary Kandel said that the issue of implementation of past commitments, adaptation and climate finance support would be in Nepal's priority in the Conference.
He mentioned, "Compensation for damages caused by the impact of climate change and climate finance support are the main agendas. We will raise these issues. Our demand is that subsidy should be provided after separating adaptation and damages."
A version of this article appears in the print on October 14, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
