Kathmandu [Nepal], September 12 – Prime Minister Balendra Shah will use the 81st United Nations General Assembly to highlight Nepal’s growing losses from climate change and demand climate justice including compensation through the fund for responding to loss and damage.
Leading a high-level Nepali delegation Shah will address the General Debate on September 24, Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai said on Friday. The visit from September 22 to 26 will be Shah’s first foreign trip.
Shah will urge developed countries to provide accessible, concessional technology and climate finance to help Nepal build climate-resilient infrastructure, promote climate-smart agriculture and strengthen disaster preparedness.
His focus will include the devastating Bhotekoshi floods which killed 1,385 people and left more than 5,000 unaccounted for according to the latest figures provided by the government.
A Rapid Disaster and Needs Assessment estimates Nepal needs Rs 723.31 billion for reconstruction with Rs 473.57 billion required for infrastructure recovery.
Shah is also expected to highlight Nepal’s forests, Himalayan ecosystem and river systems as contributions to global environmental protection despite its negligible greenhouse gas emissions.
During the UNGA, Nepal will host a side event titled “Sagarmatha to the Sea: A Call to Action for a Climate-Resilient Future.”
Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal will hold several bilateral meetings and participate in ministerial-level discussions during the assembly.
