Bhishma Raj Ojha, Kathmandu, Oct 24: Nepal has intensified its preparations as the date for the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP-30) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change draws closer. COP-30 is taking place from November 10 to 21 in Belem, Brazil.
It is stated that COP-30 will focus on discussions around topics such as fossil fuel consumption displacement, enhancement of forest, ocean and biodiversity conservation, transformation of agriculture and food systems, human welfare and social development, and technology and capacity building. The Brazilian government has put forward a proposal for that.
Similarly, Nepal has also begun preparations to raise the issues such as the Sagarmatha Call for Action related to protecting the mountains drawn from the conclusions of the Sagarmatha Sambaad (Dialogue), held in Kathmandu on May 16-18 this year.
The Ministry of Forests and Environment has forwarded preparations for COP-30 by conducting phased meetings with relevant government, non-government, and development partner representatives.
The ministry stated that for COP-30, it will present its agenda based on a global review of the conference achievements, climate-induced losses and damages, adaptation, mitigation, carbon finance, and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, along with the conclusions of the Sagarmatha Dialogue.
Dr Maheshwar Dhakal, the Joint Secretary and Head of the Climate Change Management Division at the Ministry, told RSS that the ministry will present an agenda based on climate finance, transparency frameworks on climate issues, mountain issues, capacity building and technology transfer, and climate justice.
He stated that in the conference Nepal will highlight the issues it has faced due to climate change by presenting examples of major climate-related damages the country has recently endured.
Dhakal mentioned that unlike in the previous COP summits where high-level sessions used to be held on the first and second days of the inauguration by inviting high-level political leadership, at the COP-30 the high-level sessions will be held three days before the conference and the political and technical sessions will be convened separately.
Draft of National Position Paper readied
“We have already completed most of the preparations required from the ministry’s side, and due to the country’s latest situation, the delegation attending the COP-30 will be as small as possible,” said Dr Dhakal, the Division Head and Joint Secretary.
According to him, the draft of the National Position Paper for COP-30 has been prepared while the task of holding necessary discussions with and taking suggestions from stakeholders is in its final stage.
It may be recalled here that Nepal’s position paper for COP29 had focused on securing increased, accessible climate finance, especially for mountain-specific issues like glacier melt and glacial lake outburst floods. Key agendas included adaptation and mitigation strategies, the implementation of the loss and damage fund, carbon trade agreements, and technology and capacity enhancement, all aimed at addressing the country’s climate-induced vulnerabilities and supporting its low-carbon development goals.
