Kathmandu- On the eve of COP-28, the Ministry of Forests and Environment organized a national climate conference with the aim of informing about Nepal's position and taking suggestions. Addressing the Climate Conference, 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.

He said that the world's major 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. Nepal will seriously present its claim on the speedy and full implementation of the agreement to provide the double-announced flow of finance 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 will present not a plea, but 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 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.”

We are able to reduce carbon emissions, let us help for mitigation and adaptation: Finance Minister

Also, addressing the conference, Finance Minister Dr. Prakasharan Mahat, mentioning that Nepal is capable of reducing carbon emissions, urged the big carbon emitting countries to help Nepal in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

He mentioned that Nepal is working to achieve the goal of Net Zero in 2045 and said, 'We have increased the forest area to 45 percent. Replacing carbon-emitting vehicles, the number of electric vehicles is increasing. That is why we are doing enough to reduce carbon emissions.'

He mentioned that even though Nepal has contributed to the climate change only to an insignificant extent, it has suffered a great impact. He said, 'Nepal is suffering from carbon emissions caused by other industrialized and developed countries. Unseasonal rains are falling, floods and landslides are a problem. For this, support is now needed for mitigation and adaptation.'

Addressing the heads and representatives of donor agencies participating in the program, he added, 'Nepal is now looking for solutions to the problems faced by the citizens at the local level rather than reports and financial matters. I request the heads and representatives of donor agencies to convey this matter to your higher authorities and convey that compensation for the losses suffered by Nepal is needed, not demanded.'

He said that the old style will no longer work and added, 'We have now done advocacy about climate change and its effects. We have also identified the problem and have focused on what progress is being made to solve the problem and what remains to be done.'

He also said that now Nepal needs concrete support. He said, 'We need support not in software, but in hardware and at the grassroots level. We are doing our job and we want the international community to do its job as promised. When the Himalayan snow melts and the glaciers burst, not only Nepal but South Asia and the whole world will have to face its effects.'

We have suffered the punishment for the actions of those who run nuclear reactors: Chief Minister Pandey

Addressing the Climate Conference, Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandey said that climate change and climate-related disasters are man-made problems and must be solved by humans.

He said that due to climate change, Annapurna and Machhapuchhre mountains, which look white from Pokhara, have started to look black. He added, 'Due to climate change, 50 meters of steel has been torn in the Annapurna area and if this trend continues, after 50 years, the base camp we are talking about now will not be the same. Annapurna and Machhapuchhre mountains are beginning to look snowless.'

Recalling the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' visit to the Annapurna base camp, Chief Minister Pandey said, 'The Secretary General of the United Nations reached the Annapurna region and after seeing the actual situation there, he drew the attention of the world community to be aware.'

He said Kagbeni was devastated when the rains flooded Mustang, which is known as a dry area. He added, 'The countries that emit more carbon than us are the factors in the new problems caused by climate change. We are suffering the punishment of what others have done by those who run nuclear reactors.'

Chief Minister Pandey has said that Nepal should assert its rights, noting that we are not asking for it, we have to suffer the punishment for the mistakes made by others. He added, 'we are being punished without fault, we have to say that we want compensation for it. Nepal should lead this battle. Spending in the name of climate should now also be spent on hardware. The development model should also be changed. Work should be done to save nature.'

COP-28 is an opportunity for Nepal: UN chief

Addressing the climate conference organized by the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Hana Fikri Ahmed Singer, United Nations Resident Chief for Nepal, requested that the COP-28 is a great opportunity for Nepal to make good use of it.

She said, 'COP-28 is a great opportunity for Nepal. The head of the United Nations has visited Nepal to draw the world's attention to the effects and effects of climate change. That's why Nepal will have to keep its points clear.'

Discussing the UN report on climate change, she also said that the temperature may reach 2.9 by the end of this decade. Mentioning that the climate is having a terrible effect, she said, 'Climate change requires a collective initiative. Climate change has created a challenge not only to food security but also to human life.'

"As the Paris Agreement will also be evaluated at COP-28, I would like to present the work done by Nepal for mitigation and adaptation and use it as an opportunity to take initiatives for climate finance," she said.

She also suggested the Nepal government emphasize on the implementation of the things mentioned in the National Adaptation Plan and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation National Implementation Plan reports released on Tuesday. Similarly, she also suggested the restructuring of the modality of climate finance.

Collective action needed to combat climate change: UAE Ambassador

The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Nepal, Abdullah Al Sami, has said that a collective initiative is necessary to fight against climate change.

Addressing the conference, Ambassador Al Sami said, 'The UAE government is working to make the COP-28 effective. Climate change mitigation and adaptation require collective action.'

He also said that concrete action is needed to reduce climate change and we should work together for a long-term future. He added, 'The UAE government is ready to work in cooperation with the world community for a sustainable future.'

Make a climate plan keeping in mind the circle of the hat and the one who wears it on the back: President Dhungana

Bhim Prasad Dhungana, Chairman of the Municipal Association, addressing the climate conference, mentioned that climate change should be promoted as a national policy and said that the goal cannot be achieved by bypassing the local level. He has advised the central government not to make a climate plan by thinking of the hat circle and the back row rather than the sole one.

He said, 'I want to remind you what the then Prime Minister said in 2015. Just like VP Koirala said to make a plan by keeping a farmer's photo, even now, when making a climate plan, make a plan keeping in mind the circle of the hat and the one who wears it.'

He also expressed his displeasure by saying that the local level has been ignored in climate planning and budget allocation. He said, 'Although I am not an expert on climate, I am a victim of climate-related disasters at the local level. I understand what lies beneath. Climate change should be promoted as a national policy. The goals set by us cannot be achieved by the single efforts of the central government alone. 761 should be taken by the government.'

He said that instead of raising a case based on the money brought by a foreigner, we should make the problem we are facing a case and move forward in cooperation with all the 761 governments.

He said, 'The government should have short-term and long-term plans. The problem cannot be solved by doing things at the center alone, 761 governments should take it together. It does not make sense to ignore the affected local levels and move on.'

Complaining about the neglect of the local level, he added, 'The local level that protects the forest, the local level that extinguishes the fire, we who are affected by floods, we have experienced the problem of landslides and floods. However, the target cannot be achieved with the trend of presenting data to the local level instead of information and the budget that comes from the center.'

Nepal has suffered the impact of the carbon emitted by the industrialized world, mentioning that Nepal has received funds for that, he said, 'The data has come here, the data has been brought by asking whom and discussing with whom. It should be discussed with the local level.'

He also said that Nepal should claim rights as it is not a climate debt, but a matter of rights.

We have prepared to claim compensation for climate-related disasters in COP-28: Forest Minister Mahato

Addressing the closing ceremony of the conference, the organizer, Minister of Forestry and Environment Dr. Virendra Prasad Mahato said that Nepal is preparing to present its strong claim for COP-28.

He said, 'Though the world is affected by climate change, a country like Nepal which contributes less to climate change has been affected more. The ministry is preparing to present a strong claim for its rights while reminding the commitments made by the industrialized countries, keeping in mind the problems we have experienced.

He also said that the ministry is preparing to present 6 papers including climate finance and Nepal's collective voice at COP-28. He added, 'We will present 6 papers including climate finance. In the Nepal Pavilion, there will be 36 programs about the work done and the work to be done by Nepal. Another important thing is to keep our voices from the same window. We are preparing for that.'

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda inaugurated the conference by lighting the lamp. Similarly, the secretary of the Ministry of Forestry and Environment at the conference. Besides welcoming the guests, Deepkumar Kharal discussed Nepal's preparations for COP-28 and Nepal's efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The National Adaptation Plan and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation National Implementation Plan were also announced at the conference. At the conference, Prime Minister Dahal, Federal Ministers Forest and Environment Minister Dr. Virendra Prasad Mahato, Energy Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Agriculture Minister Veduram Bhushal, Finance Minister Prakasharan Mahat were present.

Also, the chief ministers of seven provinces, chief secretaries, secretaries of various ministries, heads and representatives of friendly countries and donor agencies, heads and representatives of various non-governmental organizations, climate experts and others participated in the conference.