Govt urged for starting preparations for dialogue in COP-31 in best interest of Nepal

Kathmandu: The Development, Economic Affairs, and Good Governance Committee under the National Assembly (NA) has directed the government for preparations to start for calculated negotiations at COP-31 to protect Nepal’s interests.

Committee chair Krishna Prasad Paudel said that, keeping in mind the impact of climate change on a geographically diverse country like Nepal, careful negotiations should be conducted on international platforms to ensure Nepal’s interests.

In the discussion organized by the committee today regarding the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-31), he mentioned that the committee has been continuously discussing the impacts of climate change, keeping it a priority from the very beginning. He informed that discussions are being held with all relevant partners and necessary documents are being prepared to create the required basis for effective negotiations in Nepal’s interest at COP-31.

The committee chairperson mentioned that the committee’s secretary and other relevant staff are conducting an analytical study on this matter.

“It seems that in the past we have suffered a lot due to our lack of ability to negotiate carefully. While the commitment of political leadership is important, it’s the bureaucracy’s responsibility to organize the process and technical aspects,” he emphasized.

Paudel urged the relevant parties to be sensitive on necessary issues, keeping Nepal’s interests at the centre during the preparations for and negotiations at COP-31. He mentioned that preparation based on facts and evidence is necessary for discussions and said that the analytical documents presented with facts and statistics from the staff level is important.

Chairperson Paudel said that the committee will continuously discuss with the relevant stakeholders to clarify Nepal’s stance for COP-31.

In the meeting, the committee members and officials from the relevant ministries shared their views on the issues that Nepal should raise at COP-31, including climate justice, climate finance, loss and damage, adaptation, and climate-related disasters.

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