Kathmandu, September 3
CPN leader and former Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has suggested that the government organise a donor conference for the reconstruction of flood-affected areas and future disaster risk reduction.
Pun has submitted 18 recommendations to the prime minister, including a request to use the United Nations General Assembly as a platform to appeal to the international community on climate change. “Establish the fact at international forums that the disaster in the Himalayan region has intensified due to global carbon emissions, climate change and rising global temperatures, and seek compensation for the damage. For this purpose, the honourable prime minister should participate in the UN General Assembly and appeal to the international community,” Pun said in his recommendations.
He also proposed establishing a National Himalayan Climate and Disaster Fund to help mitigate climate-related disasters in the Himalayan region, including glacier melting, glacial lake risks, rock avalanches, avalanches, floods and landslides.
Pun also suggested mobilising international climate finance to invest in early warning systems, research, adaptation and climate-resilient infrastructure in the Himalayan region.
He proposed establishing a Nepal-China Joint Himalayan Disaster Monitoring and Research Mechanism and conducting regular regional studies through joint scientific teams.
He further recommended carrying out comprehensive multi-hazard risk assessments before rebuilding roads, bridges, markets, settlements and hydropower infrastructure damaged by disasters. Based on such assessments, he said, affected communities should be relocated to safer areas and climate-resilient infrastructure should be developed.
