KATHMANDU, MARCH 6
Minister for Forest and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri stated that Nepal represents the voices of countries most vulnerable to climate change risks.
Addressing the World Sustainable Development Summit 2025 in New Delhi on Thursday, Minister Shahi underscored the severe impacts of climate change on Nepal, as conveyed by his personal secretary, Lek Bikram Shahi.
In his speech, Minister Shahi called for increased climate financing for highly vulnerable mountainous and least developed countries like Nepal, highlighting existing financing gaps in climate risk mitigation.
"Nepal stands on the frontline of the climate crisis, facing accelerated glacial melt, erratic monsoons, and increasing natural disasters. Despite our negligible contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, we bear a disproportionate burden," he stated.
He further emphasized that urgent international cooperation, climate finance, and technology transfer are essential to protecting Nepal's mountains, biodiversity, and vulnerable communities.
Minister Shahi warned that climate change is posing a severe crisis to Nepal's ecosystem, economy, and social fabric. The rapid melting of glaciers, he noted, threatens water security and energy stability across the South Asian region.
Additionally, he revealed that Nepal lost nearly $1 billion due to climate-induced disasters between 2021 and 2024, putting future generations and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at risk.
He also shared that Nepal is in the final stages of preparing its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC-3), aiming to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.
The World Sustainable Development Summit 2025 is themed "Partnerships for Accelerating Sustainable Development and Climate Solutions." The event aims to explore the role of collaborative partnerships in driving sustainable development and climate action through shared responsibilities and collective problem-solving.
