काठमाडौं । प्रधानमन्त्री शेरबहादुर देउवाले जलवायु सम्बन्धी हरेक छलफलमा हिमालय मुद्दालाई उच्च प्राथमिकतामा राख्न आग्रह गरेका छन् ।

जलवायु परिवर्तनसम्बन्धी २६ औँ अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय सम्मेलन (कोप–२६) मा सम्बोधन गर्दै उनले औसतभन्दा तापमान उच्च हुँदा हिमाली क्षेत्रमा हिमतालहरु सुकेर जान थालेकाले जलवायु सङ्कटलाई पहिचान गर्न विश्वका नेताहरुलाई उनले ध्यान आकृष्ट गरेका हुन् । उनले हिमतालहरु पग्लेर समुद्री सतह बढ्न जाँदा तटीय र टापू राष्ट्रहरुको अस्तित्व सङ्कटमा पर्न थालेको बताए ।

उनले नेपालको कुल जनसङ्ख्याको ८० प्रतिशत प्राकृतिक र जलवायुजन्य प्रकोपहरुको जोखिममा रहेको र ४० वर्षको समयावधिमा प्राकृतिक विपद्हरुबाट नेपालमा मात्रै ६ अर्ब अमेरिकी डलर हाराहारीमा भौतिक र आर्थिक क्षति भएको उल्लेख गरेका छन् ।सम्बोधनका क्रममा देउवाले जलवायु परिवर्तनसम्बन्धी महत्वपूर्ण सम्मेलन आयोजना गरेकामा संयुक्त अधिराज्यलाई धन्यवाद पनि दिए ।

उनले हिमपात घट्दै गएको र हिमभूमि पग्लिँदै जाँदा अथाह आर्थिक, पर्यावरणीय र मानवीय क्षति परिरहेकाले अल्पविकसित राष्ट्र नेपालले विकास गतिविधि र वातावरण संरक्षणका कदमहरुबीच सन्तुलन बनाइराख्न इमान्दार प्रयास गर्दैआएको प्रधानमन्त्री देउवाले बताए।

Statement by Rt. Hon. Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prime Minister and Leader of Nepali Delegation at the World Leaders Summit during the 26th Conference of Parties (COP 26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Glasgow, United Kingdom, 01 November, 2021

Mr President,

Excellences,

Nepal remains firmly committed to the implementation of Paris Agreement. We have submitted an ambitious NDC that plans to decarbonize our economyin all sectors. Nepal aims to reach a net zero emission by 2045. We will ensure that 15% of our total energy demand is supplied from clean energy sources and maintain 45% of our country under forest cover by 2030.

With abundant water, forest and biodiversity resources, Nepal can be a leader in sharing clean, green and nature based climate solutions in the region.

With temperatures rising higher than global average, glaciers are receding, snowfall is decreasing and permafrost is melting in the Himalayan region. Extreme climate events are increasing, causing huge economic and ecological lossesand precious human lives. Around 80% of Nepal’s population is at risk from natural and climate-induced hazards. During the last 40 years, natural disasters have caused close to US$ 6 billion physical and economic damages in my country alone. 

Mr. President,  

Rapid warming in the Himalaya poses serious threat to food, water, energy and human security of the entire region. Glacier melting also contributes to the existential threat to the coastal and island countries due to sea level rise. 

I therefore urge world leaders to recognize the specific climate vulnerability of the high Mountains and accord high priority to the mountain agenda in all climate-related negotiations. Keeping the global temperature below 1.5° C is vital for mountain people. It is an issue of our survival. To raise awareness on the climate crisis in the Himalaya, my government will host Sagarmatha Sambad – a dialogue named after Mt. Everest.

Nepal,an LDC country, is making sincere efforts to balance our development and climate actions.

We are engaging with all stakeholders including private sector, indigenous people, disadvantaged communities, women and youth in all our climate actions. Recognizing the value of nature to both adapt and mitigate climate change, we have decided to create a dedicated institution for working on Nature Conservation and Climate Change together.

Loss and damage has become a key concern due to increased phenomena of climate induced disasters. This subject must find a place under article 4.8 of the Convention. We call upon the Parties to agree on making Loss and Damage a stand-alone agenda for negotiations and support the framework of additional financing for it.The COP 26 must ensure adequate adaptation support for the most vulnerable countries by scaling up financial, technological and capacity-building support.

We can deliver on our goals only through quick, direct and easy access to climate finance. We urge the Parties to agree on a clear roadmap for a new collective, quantified and ambitious goal on climate finance before 2025.

Mr. President, the decisions we make at COP 26 must do justice to those affected now, the future generations and the Mother Nature. The future of our planet largely depends on what we decide at this conference.  

I totally agree with Prime Minster Boris Jonson that this is truly the chance to save earth.

I thank you.