Kathmandu, October 28
A parliamentary special committee has stressed the need to make Nepal’s participation in the upcoming COP31 climate conference results-oriented, with a focus on climate justice, disaster-related loss and damage, and national interests.
The committee held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the impacts of climate change on the Himalayas, climate justice, and disasters in the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river basins. Discussions focused on Nepal’s participation in COP31, climate diplomacy and issues of national interest.
Committee Chair Ganesh Parajuli said Nepal’s participation in the conference should go beyond formal visits and focus on achieving concrete outcomes.
He stressed that representatives taking part in international negotiations and dialogues should have the necessary subject expertise, adequate preparation and the ability to effectively present Nepal’s interests.
The meeting also discussed the issues Nepal should raise at COP31 with the concerned minister, ministry secretaries and the chief of the environment division.
Participants emphasised that Nepal’s international negotiations should take into account the positions expressed by the prime minister at the United Nations and by the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Parajuli said Nepal should use its pavilion and documentaries presented at the conference to highlight the damage caused by recent floods, landslides and other climate-related disasters.
At the same time, he stressed the importance of communicating a positive message to the international community that Nepal remains a safe and attractive destination for tourism, alongside highlighting the impacts of disasters.
The meeting also discussed a proposal to divide the committee’s 15 members into five groups, each comprising three members, to cover nine thematic areas. Further discussions will be held to assign responsibilities based on members’ interests and subject expertise.
The committee underscored the need to ensure that Nepal’s participation in COP31 delivers tangible outcomes on climate justice, loss and damage caused by disasters, and other issues of national interest.
