KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 19
Forests and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri has stated that Nepal's participation in the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), currently underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, has been highly effective.
Speaking to media upon his return from the conference, Minister Shahi emphasized that Nepal has prioritized its key climate concerns at COP29 and engaged in several high-level discussions on these matters.
According to the Minister, agreements have been reached on various topics, including grants to support Nepal's efforts to combat the climate crisis.
A delegation of thematic experts, led by Joint Secretary Dhaniram Sharma and including Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Dr. Buddhi Sagar Poudel, Nawaraj Pudasaini, Sanjib Rai, Dhananjaya Lamichhane, and Under-Secretary Deepa Oli, is representing Nepal in technical sessions.
These sessions focus on critical areas such as climate finance, loss and damage, transparency frameworks, carbon trading, capacity building, emissions reduction, and inclusivity in climate action.
Minister Shahi also held bilateral meetings on the sidelines of COP29 with key figures, including his Bangladeshi counterpart, the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor, the Chairperson of the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), the UK Minister for Climate Change, the UK Special Representative on Climate Change, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Director-General.
These meetings addressed Nepal's climate concerns and explored avenues for international collaboration.
The Minister highlighted that COP29 discussions have concentrated on adaptation, loss and damage, climate finance, technology transfer, capacity building, issues affecting Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and gender mainstreaming in climate action.
Specific focus areas also include implementing response measures under the Paris Agreement, the Just Transition Work Programme, and other priority topics.
Minister Shahi called for collective support from civil society, journalists, NGOs, and government agencies to advance Nepal's climate justice agenda effectively.
In addition to the main COP29 sessions, parallel meetings such as the Sixth Session of State Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA-6), the 19th Session of State Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP-19), and SBSTA-61/SBI-61 are also in progress.
The COP29 conference, which commenced with a grand opening on November 11, is scheduled to conclude on November 22.
(With inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)
