COP-28 kicks off with call to accelerate collective climate action; PM Prachanda regards COP-28 as opportunity

Kathmandu / Dec 1: The 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28) has kicked off on Thursday with a call to expedite the collective climate action.

Started in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the conference will conclude on December 12. The Loss and Damage Fund has been formally launched on the first day of COP-28 following the demand for compensations by the developing and poor nations that bear the brunt of the climate crisis despite contributing little to it.

In the climate talks, the COP-28 Chief and Minister of the UAE Sultan Al Jaber said the establishment of the fund had spread a positive message, said the UNFCCC Secretariat. At the COP-27 in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh last year, rich countries agreed to set up a loss and damage fund.

On the opening day of the COP-28, USD 423.1 million has been pledged for the management of the fund. The funds are committed from the UAE and Germany (USD 100 million each), European Union (USD 145.6 million including from Germany), the United Kingdom (USD 75 million), the United States of America (USD 24.5 million) and Japan (USD 10 million), said climate expert Manjit Dhakal. The fund will be established in the World Bank on an interim basis after extensive talks on its structure, it has been said.

Before the conference, the transitional committee meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in October stressed that the COP-28 should pass the agreement on the mobilisation of the loss and damage fund.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Forest and Environment of Nepal has said it would request for reliable and substantial finances to make the fund effective.

PM Prachanda regards COP-28 as opportunity

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that the UN summit on climate change, COP-28, should be regarded as an opportunity so that Nepal could reap benefit this global event.

During a programme at Nepal pavilion on the sidelines of COP-28 in Dubai today, PM Prachanda said preparations were underway to establish Nepal’s rights to receive compensation from loss and damage Nepal has suffered from climate change.

“Even in the UN General Assembly, I was vocal on Nepal’s suffering in the face climate crisis. I raised that issue thinking of the life of future generation,” he reminded, adding that he also brought to light this issue at the interaction with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

UN Secretary General’s visit to Nepal and its mountain region has helped globalize Nepal’s suffering due to climate change, PM Prachanda argued.

According to him, atmosphere was being created that Nepal deserves compensation to this regard. He further expressed happiness for remembering Nepal during Guterres’ speech in the COP-28 inauguration on Friday.

Climate change is a common agenda for all generations. He directed Nepali team to appear with effective stand during dialogue and climate negotiation. RSS