‘Inter-country collaboration key for addressing climate crisis’

Kathmandu, Aug 10: Climate advocates and experts have empathized on expanding inter-country collaboration to mitigate risks, and potential loss and damage increasing in the glacial watershed areas.

At an interaction organized here today by the Nepal Forum of Environment Journalists (NEFEJ), experts stressed that the cross-border early warning system was inevitable to lessen risk and damage brought out by climate crisis.

The climate change induced disasters have augmented the loss of lives and properties in lack of inter-country information sharing and inter-agency coordination, the experts viewed.

On the occasion, Qianggong Zhang, Head of the Climate and Environment Risks Unit at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) highlighted the need of research and study to prepare the base for addressing climatic incidents.

He further said that the mountainous countries can reap benefits if the developed countries transfer the technology and knowledge to the Least Developed Countries.

Climate expert Dr Dharma Uprety said Nepal alone cannot avert the problems with the rise in the incidents of multiple disasters so inter-country collaboration is a must.

Saying that the climatic incidents taking place in India and China can be a lesson for Nepal, he warned an increase in the incidents of loss and damage due to temperature rise in the mountainous region.

Glacial flood researcher Shree Kamal Dwibedi stressed Nepal should enhance its capacity to reduce the incidents of climate risks, and pointed out the need of expanding study on the incidents of glacial flood as glacial outburst is not only the cause for this.

Advocating for the establishment of a special agency to check the incidents of climate change induced multiple hazards and reduce loss, he said development projects are being affected in Nepal in absence of the assessment of the loss caused by glacial floods.

Environment Inspector of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) Reena Chaudhary shared that the Authority has been effortful to reduce risks and facilitate the situation after the incidents.

Former Chair of NEFEJ Kosmos Biswokarma and environment expert Dr Binod Bhatta recommended timely training, workshops and orientation to journalists and media for mitigating hazards.