Kathmandu [Nepal], November 11 – Nepal is pushing for greater international recognition of mountain-related climate risks and increased climate finance at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has said.
In an interview on the sidelines of the UN climate summit, Khanal said Nepal had received positive responses to its proposals although its bid to include a dedicated mountain agenda in the conference’s formal programme had not been fully accepted.
Nepal, Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan have joined efforts to advance mountain-related issues with the conference organisers and presidency pledging to engage on the matter during the two-week negotiations.
Khanal also called for climate finance to increase at least threefold saying existing international commitments were insufficient to meet the growing needs of vulnerable countries. He stressed that funding should be grant-based, predictable and accessible through simpler procedures.
Highlighting the impact of the August 26 Bhotekoshi disaster he said more than 1,460 people had died, around 5,000 remained missing and reconstruction could require approximately five billion US dollars.
He said Nepal needed additional international support to rebuild damaged roads, bridges and hydropower projects and restore affected communities.
Khanal said Nepal would continue pressing for mountain-specific research, adaptation measures and dedicated financial resources.
