Two-days event on 'Mountains, People, and Climate' kicks-off in Kathmandu
KATHMANDU, MAY 22
In light of the adverse impacts faced by mountain communities due to climate change, the Ministry of Forests and Environment under the Government of Nepal organized a two-day international expert dialogue on "Mountains, People, and Climate" at a hillside resort in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
Over two hundred participants, including government ministers, climate scientists, researchers, and other global stakeholders, convened to demonstrate solidarity and commitment to global climate action.
Highlighting the urgency, Nepal called upon the international community to address climate change repercussions on the Himalayas and downstream areas.
Opening the dialogue, Dr. Baikuntha Aryal, Chief Secretary of the Government of Nepal, highlighted that the country, particularly its mountain communities, is bearing the brunt of climate change despite having no contribution to the problem.
Climate change is a global threat to which all people and ecosystems are vulnerable. Without effective adaptation, climate change has the potential to reverse the development gains and push millions of people further into poverty, Dr Aryal shared.
Emphasizing the impacts of glacier melt in Nepal, Dr. Aryal highlighted significant events such as the severe floods in the Melamchi area in 2022 and unprecedented flooding in the Kaligandaki River. He stressed the urgent need for solutions to ensure food and water security, preserve biodiversity, promote inclusivity, and safeguard cultures and indigenous peoples.
"Mountains serve as vital sources of water and livelihood, while also playing a crucial role in global temperature regulation. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a sustained platform to address the challenges posed by climate crises in mountainous regions and their implications for low-lying countries," shared Dr. Aryal.
Karen Welch, USAID Director, reaffirmed their commitment to biodiversity conservation and environmental partnerships in Nepal, pledging continued collaboration.
Rosalaura Romeo from the Mountain Partnership Secretariat of the FAO emphasized the significance of experience exchange programs in addressing the challenges faced by mountain countries, citing established scientific data on the Himalayan region's climate change impacts.
Dinara Kemelova, Kyrgyzstan's special representative, highlighted that mountains are home to 30% of the world's population and called for a united effort to protect these vital ecosystems. She stressed the global importance of preserving mountains as sources of clean drinking water and hydroelectric power.
Hanna Singer Hamdy, UN Resident Coordinator Nepal, pointed to the detrimental effects of climate change on the Himalayas and its inhabitants, advocating for cooperative efforts to safeguard the region.
Harry Vireau, Chair of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), emphasized the increasing incidence of climate-induced disasters such as floods and landslides, calling for collective solutions to address these challenges.
Similarly, Yonten Phuntsho, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock of The Royal Government of Bhutan, remarked, "As we convene here to commemorate the historic achievement of including mountain issues in the context of COP28 in Dubai, we are assembled to deliberate and chart out efforts to address the challenges faced by mountains and acknowledge the critical roles they play in mitigating climate change."
"In a world of interdependence, it is insufficient for a single entity to mitigate climate change; collaborative efforts are imperative," Phuntsho shared.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate change Bangladesh said, the developed countries emit 81 percent of the total global carbon emissions. Developing countries like Nepal and Bangladesh are facing problems due to this.
The developed countries have not fulfilled their commitments made at various climate conferences regarding reducing carbon emissions. Now, they should be prompted," he added. Minister Hossain emphasized that the government alone cannot alleviate poverty and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Minister Chowdhury also stressed the importance of managing the budget required for implementing climate change adaptation programs. "Political will is necessary to address the problems caused by the adverse impacts of climate change," he reiterated.
On the occasion, addressing the expert dialogue on Mountains, People, and Climate, Prime Minister Dahal underscored the urgent necessity of a unified mountain voice to confront the escalating concerns regarding the impacts of climate change on mountain communities and the crucial ecosystem services they provide.
Additionally, PM Dahal also emphasized the imperative of economic and technical cooperation among countries most affected by the impacts of climate change.
Highlighting the unprecedented nature of climate change impacts in mountainous regions, PM Dahal warned that these countries, occupying the forefront of the global climate crisis, bear disproportionate burdens of warming's adverse effects.
Referring to Antonio Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, who visited the Everest Base Camp last year, Dahal echoed Guterres' remarks, stating, "Nepal is bearing the brunt of climate change despite having made no contribution to it."
PM Dahal further called for concerted efforts to safeguard and enhance the mountains, mountain civilizations, mountain ecosystems, and mountain inhabitants. He sought to cultivate collaboration and solidarity to address the collective challenges posed by climate change in mountainous regions.
Chairing the session, Nepal's Minister for Forests and Environment, Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, expressed gratitude to all the delegates and participants for their active engagement in the event. He emphasized the necessity of collaborative efforts in the battle against climate change, as well as the importance of data and knowledge sharing among countries affected by adverse climate change, concluding his remarks as he closed the session.
Following the opening session, other thematic and planery disucssion were held on the climate change and its impact.
