Antalya (Türkiye), November 10 – A proposal by Nepal and Bhutan to place climate change impacts on mountain regions on the formal agenda of the UN climate conference, COP31 has failed to secure approval.
The countries submitted a proposal titled “1.5 Degrees Celsius Temperature Rise in Mountains” seeking discussion of threats to glaciers, water supplies, food security, energy production, biodiversity and mountain livelihoods.
Nepal, Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan also called for mountain and climate change to become a formal agenda item. They sought regular high-level dialogue a dedicated work programme for mountain ecosystems and greater attention to mountain priorities in adaptation and loss-and-damage finance.
Addressing the opening session, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal urged countries to reflect the 1.5-degree threshold for mountains in conference decisions. He cited the August 26 Bhotekoshi disaster saying it had killed more than 1,400 people and left over 5,000 missing. He called for international sympathy to translate into practical support and commitments.
The conference adopted its agenda by consensus, but the mountain proposal was excluded as a separate item. Nepal’s delegation said it would continue efforts to include mountain concerns in negotiations and final decisions. A summary of discussions on mountains and climate change has been included in an official conference document.
