KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 12
President Ramchandra Paudel has called for redirecting global resources away from military spending toward climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, to safeguard human civilization and ensure a habitable planet for future generations.
Speaking at the COP29 World Leaders Climate Action Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, as the Leader of the Nepali Delegation, President Paudel highlighted that countries like Nepal are compelled to divert scarce resources, initially earmarked for poverty reduction, toward climate adaptation and mitigation-an outcome he described as a "grave injustice."
"Climate fund pledges have been insufficient from the outset, and many remain unmet. Worse, complex processes prevent the targeted communities from accessing these funds," Paudel said, urging the swift implementation of the "polluter pays and compensates" principle.
President Paudel emphasized the need for operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund, intended to support vulnerable developing countries. He also advocated for climate finance to recognize Nepal's contributions in conserving biodiversity, protecting the Himalayan cryosphere, and sustaining freshwater supplies, and called for adequate compensation for climate-related losses and damages.
Outlining Nepal's commitment to sustainable resource management, Paudel noted that the country has made strides in forest expansion and clean energy production to meet its ambitious emission reduction targets as outlined in its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). However, he acknowledged that "the challenges posed by global warming and climate change far exceed our capacity and resources."
Delivering his statement in Nepali, the President also urged for technology transfer and capacity-building grants in alignment with the Paris Agreement, emphasizing that climate finance should come in the form of grants disbursed through national treasuries for maximum effectiveness.
Expressing hope for substantial progress at COP29, Paudel called for a clear NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal) framework grounded in climate justice, equity, and capacity to support a 1.5-degree Celsius warming limit and advance sustainable development for the least developed and Himalayan nations.
In his remarks, President Paudel thanked Azerbaijan for hosting the 29th climate conference and outlined Nepal's primary concerns: climate justice and reparations for loss and damage.
Despite Nepal's minimal carbon emissions, the country suffers severe impacts from climate change, including recent glacial lake outbursts and devastating floods, causing extensive damage and imposing serious recovery challenges given Nepal's limited resources.
"It is unjust that we are compelled to divert our meager resources-intended for poverty reduction-towards adaptation and mitigation," Paudel said, underscoring the critical need for the "polluter pays and compensates" principle.
While pledges for climate finance have been insufficient and remain unmet, President Paudel argued that these funds often do not reach the communities in need due to bureaucratic hurdles. He reiterated the call for developed countries to deliver technology transfer and capacity-building grants, in line with the Paris Agreement commitments, through direct grants managed via national treasuries.
In his address, President Paudel also articulated the following:
Redirecting resources from military spending toward climate adaptation and mitigation is crucial for safeguarding civilization and securing a habitable planet.
He expressed optimism that COP29 would establish a well-defined NCQG framework rooted in climate justice and equity, targeting a 1.5-degree Celsius cap on warming and prioritizing sustainable development for least-developed and Himalayan nations.
Paudel emphasized the need for integrated adaptation strategies linking mountains to seas, noting that as the snow-covered mountains turn to bare rock, the impacts extend beyond mountain nations to coastal regions. Nepal, he shared, is planning to advance this concept through the 'Sagarmatha Sambad' (Everest Dialogue).
In closing, President Paudel reiterated Nepal's commitment to protecting the Himalayas as essential to safeguarding humanity worldwide.
(With inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)
