Kathmandu, November 2
Nepal has made a commitment to achieving a net-zero emission by 2045 and increasing the share of clean energy in the country’s energy demand to 15 per cent and forest cover to 45 per cent by 2030.
In his address to the World Leaders Summit during the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Glasgow, United Kingdom, on Monday, Nepal’s delegation head, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba made the announcement.
He also said, “Nepal remains firmly committed to the implementation of the Paris Agreement. We have submitted an ambitious NDC that plans to decarbonize our economy in all sectors.”
Meanwhile, the prime minister also highlighted problems of the Himalayan region due to climate change. “With temperatures rising higher than the global average, glaciers are receding, snowfall is decreasing and permafrost is melting in the Himalayan region,” he said, “Extreme climate events are increasing, causing huge loss to the economy, ecology and 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 in physical and economic damages in my country alone.”
Yet, Deuba expressed his hope. “With abundant water, forest and biodiversity resources, Nepal can be a leader in sharing clean, green and nature-based climate solutions in the region… We can deliver on our goals only through quick, direct and easy access to climate finance.”
Read Deuba’s full statement here.
