Kathmandu- Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has said that Nepal will draw the world's attention to the problems of mountain nations at the United Nations Climate Conference (COP 28) to be held in Dubai, UAE.
At the closing ceremony of the National Conference on Climate Change held in Kathmandu on Tuesday, he said that the world's leading carbon emitters will take strong initiatives to reduce emissions immediately, provide climate finance to developed countries, increase financial subsidies and address the issue of damages and losses.
At the said summit, Nepal will strongly lobby the rich and developed countries of the world to fulfill their commitments to limit the increase in global temperature. Prime Minister Prachanda said, "Nepal will seriously present its claim on the speedy and full implementation of the agreement to provide the double announced funding flow for adaptation as a grant," Prime Minister Prachanda said, "Even in the preparatory meetings held for the preparation of COP-28, I have clearly said this time - this time Nepal is not a beggar. It will be presented with a strong claim.'
Prime Minister Prachanda opined that Nepal needs 21 billion US dollars to implement climate adaptation priorities by 2030. He also said that it is necessary to present claims in a factual manner for Nepal's easy access to the established adaptation funds.
"Nepal's problems in accessing climate finance will be discussed with the related bodies about the procedural difficulties, the disparity in the distribution of funds and other difficulties", he said, "especially now, the investment in climate change is becoming more serious about the issue of debt-centered, changing it to adaptability, resilience and damage and loss. We will lobby and claim to ensure that the financial grants provided for the promotion of the concept should be received as climate justice.'
Prime Minister Prachanda also said that the subsidies that Nepal will receive as climate justice are not included in the government's regulatory system, they go directly to social organizations and individuals and they cannot be mobilized for the national interest when they spend according to their own interests.
“I also clarify here that from now on, efforts will be made to make arrangements to receive such financial grants directly from the state fund by stopping the practice of distributing and spending them according to their own preferences.”
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Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda's" speech at the National Climate Conference (5th Mangsir 2080, Kathmandu)
Honorable Deputy Prime Minister,
Honorable Ministers,
Honorable Chief Ministers of the state,
Chief Secretaries,
Ms. Hanaa Fikry Ahmed Singer, UN Resident Coordinator, Nepal,
Secretaries of the Government of Nepal,
Representatives of development partner organizations,
Private sector representatives,
Representatives of civil society,
Fellow national service employees,
media friends,
All dignitaries present.
1. On the eve of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28), which is going to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12, this national conference was organized to share information about Nepal's preparations and the position paper Nepal will present at the conference. I express my sincere thanks to the Ministry of Forest and Environment for doing this.
2. Nepal is at high risk due to climate change. Due to the changing climate, extensive changes in the nature, quantity, and schedule of monsoon rains, increase in temperature and changes in rainfall and increase in disasters and extreme events, we are facing multifaceted challenges.
3. The impact of climate change has started to be seen especially in the form of melting and eruption of glaciers in the Himalayan region, landslides and droughts in the mountainous regions, and floods and landslides in the Terai Madhesh. Studies have shown that two-thirds of the glaciers of the mountains in this region will melt due to the increase in temperature.
4. The poor, small farmers, marginalized tribals, tribal women, children, disabled, and senior citizens living in the mountains, hills, and Terai Madhesh are more affected by the effects of climate change. Climate change has had a major impact on thematic sectors that contribute significantly to the economy, such as agriculture, water resources, tourism, and other sectors, as well as food security, health, water supply, livelihood, and security. Due to economic and social decline, increasing health and food security issues, future climate crises, and risks are certain to increase.
5. Since Nepal is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, it has been participating in the negotiation processes of the party countries and is constantly communicating with the world community about the challenges and opportunities of climate change through various platforms. COP-28 is coming as a challenge and an important opportunity to make this dialogue more intensive and result-oriented.
6. In accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Nepal has formulated and implemented appropriate policy, legal and institutional structures financial arrangements, and programs to enhance climate resilience. National Climate Change Policy 2076, Environmental Protection Act 2076 and Regulations 2077, National Blueprint of Local Adaptation Action Plan 2076, Climate Uplifting Plan and Budget Formulation Guidelines 2077 and Climate Change Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan 2077-2087 have been formulated and implemented.
7. The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2021-2050 unveiled today and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC Implementation Plan) under the Paris Agreement will make us even better. In order to deal with the effects and effects of climate change, the cooperation and cooperation of the leadership and development partners and stakeholders at the union, state, and local levels is necessary to implement the national policies, plans, and programs related to climate change adaptation and mitigation prepared by us. I also cordially invite the national/international associations/organizations to focus their support on the programs in the National Adaptation Plan and the National Determined Contribution Implementation Plan prepared by including our needs and priorities.
8. If the global temperature increase is not stopped, there will be an increase in climate-related disasters, a decrease in food security and water availability, as well as a serious impact on the possibility of climate-sustainable development in developing countries including Nepal. The speech I gave at the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations on behalf of Nepal and least developed countries and at the Climate Ambition Summit in New York presented the remarkable work done by Nepal and made climate finance available as climate justice to address the impact of climate change in Nepal. It has presented a strong claim attracting the attention of the world community.
9. At my invitation, UN Secretary General António Guterres' recent visit to Nepal presented to the world the problems that Nepal is facing due to climate change, especially rapid avalanches in the Himalayas, loss of biodiversity and the impact on livelihoods, to increase access to climate finance and to hold stakeholders accountable for climate justice. has attracted the attention of the community.
10. The Nepalese delegation under my leadership is participating in the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) starting next week. At the summit, Nepal will strongly lobby the rich and developed countries of the world to fulfill their commitments to limit global temperature rise. Nepal will seriously present its claim on the speedy and full implementation of the agreement to provide the twice-announced flow of finance for adaptation as a grant.
11. Even in the preparatory meetings held for the preparation of COP-28, I have clearly said this time - this time Nepal will not be begging but will be presented with a strong claim. Therefore, the documents and presentations presented by the government and non-government sectors will be prepared accordingly. As far as I understand the documents are being prepared like that.
12. Similarly, the procedural difficulties of Nepal's access to climate finance, the disparity in the distribution of funds, and other difficulties will be discussed with the relevant agencies. In particular, we will be serious about the fact that the investment in climate change is more focused on debt, and we will advocate and claim to ensure that the financial subsidy provided in the promotion of adaptation, resilience, and the concept of loss and damage should be received as climate justice.
13. Adaptation, upliftment, and the concept of loss and damage, the financial subsidy provided is not according to the wishes and interests of the superpower countries and donors, it is necessary to change the structural system to join the government budgetary system according to the national interest of Nepal. We have the bitter reality that the grants that Nepal receives for climate justice are not included in the government's regulatory system, they go directly into the hands of social organizations and individuals, and they cannot be mobilized for the national interest when they spend according to their own interests. Therefore, from now on, I would like to make it clear that efforts will be made to make arrangements to directly receive government funds by stopping the arbitrariness of distributing and spending such financial grants.
14. A concrete initiative is needed to draw the world's attention to identifying and addressing the problems of mountain nations. Nepal will be led to strategically raise the problems of mountain countries with similar problems and make a strategy of cooperation with mountain countries.
15. Strong pressure will be created on the world's major carbon emitters to reduce emissions immediately, reminders to provide climate finance to developed countries, increase in financial subsidies, and cooperation of countries with similar environments to address the issue of damages and losses.
16. Nepal needs USD 21 billion to implement adaptation priorities by 2030. For Nepal's easy access to established adaptation funds, it is necessary to present claims in a convincing manner. Developed countries like Nepal should strongly advocate for the Green Climate Fund and other funds, especially to simplify application processes remove capacity barriers, and improve direct access to climate funds.
17. This conference, to implement the far-reaching and ambitious commitments taken by Nepal and highlight the achievements made by Nepal in the implementation of local adaptation plans, ecosystem-based adaptation, early warning system success, climate-friendly agriculture and clean energy investment, donor agencies, private There is a need for bilateral and multilateral dialogue with the region and other stakeholders. In addition, the issue of prioritizing the role of a refined and transparent framework for enhancing the capacity of underdeveloped countries like Nepal should be raised.
18. It is a challenge to bring benefits from international climate financial mechanisms into the country, on the other hand, attention should be paid to effectively mobilize the climate finance available within the country to reach the affected areas and communities and invest in concrete programs and activities. In this context, the second meeting of the National Council for Environmental Protection and Climate Change Management has formed a working group for climate finance management and institutional reform. After receiving the study report of the working group, more help will be available to take initiatives with concrete policies in this direction.
19. Finally, I leave by thanking the organizers once again for the strong presentation of Nepal at the COP-28 with the belief that today's national conference will help to maintain clarity on Nepal's position paper, issues, and methods that Nepal should raise before the world, and common understanding among stakeholders. Thank you.
