‘Nepal and Pacific island nations are at forefront of climate crisis’

Kathmandu, Oct 6: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has stated that Nepal and the Pacific island nations, which are geographically distant, are at the forefront of the same ecological crisis due to the increasing impacts of climate change.

Addressing the high-level ‘Leaders Plenary’ under the ‘Pre-COP Leaders Event’ held today in Fiji, he noted the deep interconnection between the mountains and the oceans.

According to his secretariat, Khanal highlighted that Nepal, located in the high Himalayas, and the small island nations in the Pacific are facing similar challenges due to climate change.

Referring to recent devastating glacier, glacial lake, and ice-rock collapse events in Nepal that caused a ‘Himalayan Tsunami’, resulting in significant human losses, Minister Khanal said the effects of climate change are not limited to the mountains.

He added that as Himalayan glaciers melt, sea levels rise, and stronger cyclones and more powerful storms hit the Pacific region.

‘The mountains and oceans are an inseparable part of the same planet, connected by a shared water cycle and humanity’s common future,’ he asserted.

Minister Khanal drew attention to the climate injustice faced by countries most vulnerable to climate change, saying nations that have contributed little to global greenhouse gas emissions are paying a disproportionate price for the climate crisis.

Khanal expressed his displeasure that vulnerable and developing countries are suffering heavy losses to human lives, critical infrastructure and development gains despite making only a negligible contribution to global emissions.

The Minister viewed that countries that are at high climate risk should be addressed immediately through globally just and equitable responsibility.

Presenting Nepal’s priorities for the upcoming 31st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), he reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to keeping the rise in global temperatures within the 1.5-degree Celsius limit.

During his address, he called for predictable, grant-based adaptation finance that does not add debt burden to vulnerable countries, and swift and effective implementation of the Loss and Damage Fund.
He also pointed out the need for establishment of a formal ‘Sagarmatha dekhi Samundra Samma’ (From Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) to Ocean) partnership between mountain- and ocean-based nations that face similar climate risks.

Recalling community-based traditions of collective efforts, including Fiji’s ‘Solesolevaki’ and Nepal’s ‘Shramadan’ (labour donation), he opined that the climate crisis requires global solidarity and coordinated leadership.

The Minister asserted that collective efforts are essential on the ‘Road to COP31’ to turn shared climate risks into meaningful and actionable climate justice. RSS