Nepal urges stronger global climate action

Kathmandu / Oct. 29: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal has called for stronger global climate action, highlighting the need for increased climate finance, support for loss and damage and greater international attention to mountain vulnerabilities as Nepal faces billions of dollars in reconstruction costs following devastating floods and landslides.

Addressing the National Climate Summit 2026 organised ahead of Conference of Parties (COP 31), which is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Turkiye from November 9 to November 20, 2026, Minister Khanal said that the devastating flood of August 26 inflicted immense human suffering and extensive damage upon Nepal’s infrastructure, livelihoods, and economy.

“Preliminary assessments indicated that reconstruction and recovery from the August catastrophe alone will require approximately US$ 4.7 billion, equivalent to nearly ten percent of our national GDP,” he said.

Behind these staggering figures lie families mourning their loved ones, communities struggling to rebuild, and decades of hard-earned development gains placed in jeopardy.

“Earlier this month, at the Pre-COP Leaders’ Event in Fiji, I had the opportunity to convey Nepal’s urgent call for global climate action and highlight four priorities that must guide our collective engagement at COP31,” Minister Khanal said.

Nepal has consistently championed mountain concerns through the International Expert Dialogue on Mountains, People and Climate Change in 2024 and the Sagarmatha Sambaad in 2025. We look forward to carrying this momentum into the next Sagarmatha Sambaad in 2027, he said.

“At COP31, we will advocate for regular high-level dialogues on mountains, a dedicated mountain work programme, and the systematic integration of mountain-specific vulnerabilities into global climate frameworks,” Minister Dr. Khanal said.

The recent decision of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to provisionally allocate US$ 20 million, which marks a milestone in international climate cooperation, with Nepal becoming the first country to secure such an allocation.

Nepal will continue advocating for predictable, grant-based resources and effective rapid-response mechanisms to support recovery and resilient reconstruction.

Minister Khanal said that climate finance must be accessible, equitable and responsive to national priorities. Nepal has demonstrated its commitment through its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs), National Adaptation Plan and long-term low-emission development strategy, he said.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains committed to advancing our national priorities through bilateral diplomacy, regional partnerships, and multilateral cooperation. To anchor this work, the Ministry has established a dedicated Climate Diplomacy Section,” he said

Speaking at the event, Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment Geeta Chaudhary said that climate justice must not remain limited to words in international documents but be translated into action. “Those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis are suffering its worst consequences. The question of climate justice arises from this very injustice,” she said.

“Climate justice should not remain merely a beautiful phrase in United Nations documents. It must be translated into action,” she said, adding that responsibility for protecting the Himalayas and addressing the impacts of floods must be shared internationally.

Chaudhary also stressed the need to place women, children, young people, senior citizens, Indigenous Peoples and marginalised communities at the centre of climate policy and decision-making, as they often bear a disproportionate share of climate-related losses.

Climate change is not the responsibility of a single ministry or level of government, she said, emphasising the need for coordination among federal, provincial and local governments. Climate adaptation must begin not only at Singha Durbar but also at wards and community levels. Local Adaptation Plans for Action (LAPA) and related local plans should therefore be strengthened and implemented.

Ahead of COP31, she said Nepal would continue to advocate for climate justice, the mountain agenda, adaptation, easier access to climate finance and the effective operation of the loss and damage fund.

The government is preparing documents to present in the upcoming COP31. During the programme, Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, spokesperson and Chief at the Climate Change Section at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment presented the roadmap to COP31 Kathmandu to Antalaya.

Dr. Dhakal presented position paper to COP 31. The Mountain agenda is one of the key priorities, with a particular focus on addressing the risks of global warming exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius in mountain regions.

According to him, other major priorities include climate change adaptation, loss and damage and securing financial support for communities affected by climate-induced disasters. The agenda also stressed predictable climate finance, technology development and transfer, and carbon market mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Another priority is strengthening climate change mitigation, transparency, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the global stocktake are also among the priorities. Agriculture, food security, health and a just transition have been identified as important areas of action

Likewise, the agenda also highlights inclusive climate justice, with an emphasis on gender equality and the participation of children, young people, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, sexual and gender minorities, and other vulnerable communities. International cooperation is considered essential to addressing the growing impacts of climate change.

At the programme, Living Sagarmatha Mountain Strategy, National Carbon Finance Handbook, Sectoral Opportunities for Carbon Projects in Nepal, Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action, and Gender Responsive Assessment of Climate Induced Economic and Non-Economic Loss and Damage: Experience from Rasuwa 2025 and Melamchi 2021 Flood Disaster in Nepal were also unveiled.