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At the heart of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the desert meets the sea, resides a city that embodies luxury, innovation, and limitless exploration. Against the backdrop of the Global Climate Conference, COP28, Dubai revealed its multifaceted allure, beckoning both delegates and visitors to explore its vibrant tapestry.

Venturing beyond the conference precincts, I embarked on an excursion through Dubai, a diverse fusion of cultural heritage and contemporary extravagance. The city unveiled a myriad of experiences, each more thrilling than the last.

From the awe-inspiring views during a lavish yacht party, where the shimmering skyline mirrored the bright-black sky above, to the adrenaline-pumping adventure of a desert safari, navigating golden dunes under the Arabian sun, each moment was filled with excitement.

The sun-drenched beaches welcomed guests with their flawless sands and azure waters, offering a tranquil escape amidst the city’s bustling energy. As night descended, Dubai’s nightlife lit up the sky, casting an enchanting ambiance over the lively streets and bustling venues.

Through my camera lens, I captured Dubai’s essence—a blend of tradition and modernity, where ancient heritage harmonizes seamlessly with futuristic marvels. Each photo encapsulates the spirit of adventure, luxury, and cultural opulence that defines this extraordinary city.

Every image of Dubai tells a story of marvel and indulgence, creating a vibrant tapestry of experiences waiting to be discovered.

Dubai: The 28th global climate conference (COP28) is currently underway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and will go on till Dec 12. It’s being held at Expo City—a cutting-edge venue designed to champion sustainability and circularity principles. This purpose-built city spans 4.38 sq km and offers an enhanced quality of life for its visitors, featuring top-tier events.

Expo City in Dubai is segregated into two zones for COP28—the Blue Zone, accessible to accredited party and observer delegates conducting formal negotiations—and the Green Zone, serving as a platform for activists to share their climate projects and stories on a global scale.

With a record-breaking 84,000 registered attendees, this year’s COP marks a significant contrast from its modest beginnings in Berlin in 1995, which had fewer than 4,000 delegates. Last year’s COP27 in Egypt attracted around 50,000 visitors, further highlighting the growth and importance of this global event.

During COP28, Nepal, chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), emphasized the urgent need for dialogue on mountain and climate change issues. They advocated for fair grants to address the climate crisis and stressed the necessity for a predictable, simplified, and sufficient Loss and Damage Fund tailored to LDCs and mountainous countries.

The Nepali Pavilion has been actively engaged in hosting at least five sideline events daily, with an estimated 250 Nepali delegates participating in the conference.

The conference commenced with a landmark agreement on establishing a loss and damage fund, aimed at assisting developing countries in managing the repercussions of climate change—an agreement reached on the inaugural day of the event. 

Dubai: Nepal has put forth its key climate priorities at the global climate conference COP28 being held at Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

In several platforms, high-level government officials, including Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal stated that developed countries’ pledges and actions do not correspond with each other and they must raise their ambitions and urgently fulfill their commitments.

Nepal also urged the developed countries to scale up climate finance to make up for the $100bn shortfall and double the adaptation finance by 2025, and ensure fair financial arrangements without conditions, constraints, and compliances. 

Nepal, as the chair of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), said the loss and damage fund must be predictable, simplified, and adequate for LDCs and mountainous countries. The Global Stocktake (GST) report must give a clear roadmap to all, and every country must act in solidarity with urgency, demanded Nepal. Nepal also emphasized the necessity of initiating a dialogue on mountain and climate change. In a positive development, COP28 has launched a Loss and Damage Fund. 

Prime Minister Dahal, while addressing the opening of ‘National Statements,’a high-level segment of COP28, demanded a six-point list. He conveyed to the global community that Nepal, despite playing a minimal role in greenhouse gas emissions, is among the most severely affected by climate change.

“I bring a message from 30m Nepalis to this conference, crystal clear: Our mountains endure the torment of escalating temperatures. Their preservation is paramount—save them first!” stressed Dahal. Highlighting the significance of the Himalayas, he said, “These mountains serve as the bedrock of human civilizations, ecosystems, and biodiversity. They provide essential global services to people and the planet, serving as the lifeblood for billions of individuals downstream.”

Dahal reaffirmed Nepal’s dedication to the Paris Agreement, stating, “We are resolutely committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, five years ahead of the global target.”

A report recently published by the UN Climate Change shows that national climate action plans (known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) would collectively lower greenhouse gas emissions to two percent below 2019 levels by 2030, while the science is clear that a 43 percent reduction is needed.

The GST must be a catalyst for greater ambition in meeting the Paris Agreement’s goals as nations prepare to submit revised national climate action plans by 2025. It lays out actions on how to accelerate emissions cuts, strengthen resilience to climate impacts, and provide the support and finance needed for the transformation.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres also prominently highlighted Nepal in his addresses.

“Just days ago, I was on the melting ice of Antarctica. Not long before, I witnessed the melting glaciers of Nepal. Despite the vast distance between these two locations, they are united in facing a common crisis,” he said.

Nepal also organized a high-level roundtable discussion, titled ‘Call of mountains: Who saves us from the climate crisis’ chaired by Prime Minister Dahal. 

During his address in the roundtable, he said, “While mountains matter for identity and dignity, ecological and environmental integrity, and humanity, Nepal hosts the highest place in the world, Mt Everest, and is facing the crisis posed by climate change, more and more than others.” 

Dahal further said that climate change impacts, irrespective of color, castes, and social wellbeing of the people, and also the economic condition of the countries, it affects disproportionately.

The roundtable was held with the aim to protect and promote the mountains, mountain civilization, mountain ecosystems, and inhabitants of mountains and seeks to garner collaboration and solidarity to tackle the common challenges posed by climate change in the mountains. 

“Together, we can reach far and accomplish more in our journey of climate justice. It is with absolute confidence that Nepal has hosted this event to pave the way for advanced solutions for the mountains and people living there,” Dahal said. “I strongly recommend the necessity of initiating a dialogue on mountain and climate change to realize the grief of the mountainous communities, find possible solutions, and bring them out of trouble.”

Prime Minister of Andorra Xavier Espot Zamora, UN Secretary General Guterres, and representatives from mountainous countries Kyrgyz Republic, Bhutan, Slovenia, Montenegro including representatives from United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and climate analytics were present.

Guterres expressed his deep concern, stating, “It is profoundly alarming to observe the rapid melting of Nepal’s mountains. Hearing firsthand from local communities about the devastating impact on their lives is deeply distressing.”

“Nepal, along with other vulnerable mountainous nations, is bearing the brunt of a crisis not of their making. Over just 30 years, the country has lost nearly a third of its ice, a direct consequence of greenhouse gas pollution warming our planet. This loss results in swollen lakes and rivers that flood, washing away entire communities,” he emphasized. 

The UN secretary-general warned that without a change in course, catastrophic consequences loom. 

“The glaciers face the risk of complete disappearance, leading to significantly reduced flows in major Himalayan rivers such as the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra, along with the decimation of deltas by encroaching saltwater.”

Highlighting the urgent need for collaboration between governments, countries, and corporations to curb emissions, Guterres stressed the importance of protecting everyone on Earth with an effective early warning system by 2027. He singled out Nepal as a crucial candidate for implementing such a system, stating, “The mountains are signaling a distress call. COP28 must respond with a rescue plan. Let us collectively devote our efforts to ensure that actionable steps emerge from the COP.”

Prime Minister Dahal expressed his satisfaction following Guterres’ mention of Nepal during the high-level meetings. “In his opening speech, Guterres highlighted Nepal and Antarctica, which brings us immense joy,” he remarked.

Speaking at the Nepal Pavilion in COP28, Dahal emphasized that the concerns and priorities of Nepal and other mountainous nations have now become integral to global agendas.

Dahal urged the Nepali delegation to actively engage in bilateral and multilateral discussions, as well as sideline meetings throughout the conference, stressing their paramount importance.

He also underlined the role of Nepali youths in addressing the climate crisis. “Our young generation possesses significant potential and should assertively advocate for climate justice.”

Nepal has been organizing various events at its pavilion including ‘Financing Nepal’s NDC implementation plan’, ‘Putting health at center of climate action’, and ‘L&D and resilient recovery: What Nepal needs’ among others. Nepalis participating at COP28 have also been actively engaged at the sideline events organized by pavilions of other countries and organizations.

Nepal’s six-point demand at COP28

• Developed countries’ pledges and actions do not correspond with each other. They must raise their ambitions and fulfill their commitments urgently.
• They must scale up climate finance to make up for the $100bn shortfall and double the adaptation finance by 2025, and ensure fair financial arrangements without conditions, constraints, and compliances.
• We demand grants as our justice to address this crisis.  
• The loss and damage Fund must be predictable, simplified, and adequate for LDCs and mountainous countries.
• The GST report must give a clear roadmap to all, and we must act in solidarity with urgency.
• The necessity of initiating a dialogue on mountain and climate change.

Climate action gains momentum, but falls short of critical targets

Businesses, investors, cities, states, and regions are increasingly taking action on climate change, yet the pace and scale of these efforts fall short of what’s necessary to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as highlighted in the 2023 edition of the Yearbook of Global Climate Action released during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28).

“Acceleration of climate action is imperative across the board. Comprehensive transformation of systems, encompassing energy, transportation, our interaction with nature, and societal structures, is crucial to swiftly curbing emissions and fostering resilience,” said Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of UN Climate Change. “Enhanced collaboration between Parties and non-Party stakeholders presents an opportunity for significant advancements towards our shared climate objectives.”

The 2023 Yearbook, the seventh installment in the series, has presented an overview of the progress, trends, and challenges pertaining to tangible climate action undertaken by non-party stakeholders.

The report has highlighted that the Global Climate Action Portal—a platform monitoring worldwide climate initiatives—now boasts over 32,000 registered participants, signifying a six percent increase from the 2022 figures and nearly sixfold growth since 2015. However, gaps persist, both in terms of broadening the geographical coverage and scope of climate action within the portal itself, and in the diversity of solutions pursued by non-party stakeholders.

“Efficient implementation, aligned with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, stands as our collective objective, guided by the principles of climate justice. The global stocktake presents an opportunity for united progress,” the book includes.

Key messages

• Climate action needs to align with the goal of keeping the 1.5 degrees Celsius climate-resilient world within reach.
• The opportunities to accelerate climate action exist, but need to be scaled up.
• Non-party stakeholders are key partners in ramping up climate action and ambition.
• Credibility of action and commitments of non-party stakeholders need to be systematically ensured.
• International cooperation across sectors and actors—guided by the principle of climate justice—is instrumental in systems-transformation.
• Climate action should not be siloed.
• Fair finance flows are needed now.

Santosh Kafle, a computer engineer by profession, is a member of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)’s Bagmati province chapter. He also heads the Corruption Prevention and Good Governance Department of the chapter. Pratik Ghimire of ApEx caught up with Kafle to know about RSP’s recent engagements and the party’s thoughts on recent political developments. Excerpts:

What is RSP’s ‘Mission84’?

Due to the persistent incompetence of major political parties, Nepalis became increasingly fed up and frustrated, leading to the emergence of RSP. With the formation of RSP, people finally had an alternative in the elections, offering hope for improvement.

As a newly established party, we appreciate the seats we’ve secured in the parliament. However, these are insufficient to adequately address the issues facing our people, as we lack the ability to independently form a government. We are now eagerly anticipating the upcoming general elections scheduled for 2084 BS, aiming to secure a majority and govern independently. Our focused efforts in preparation for this event are encapsulated in what we call ‘Mission84’.

What is going on with the general convention of the party?

We are actively engaged in building the party organization. Typically, for a party’s general convention, the process involves the election of members from wards, followed by municipalities and the central committee. However, as a new party, we took a different approach by initially forming the central committee and subsequently initiating the formation of lower committees. With the exception of a few ward committees, almost all the groundwork for the party's organizational structure has been completed.

Within this month, we will commence the process of the general convention by electing members from local committees, gradually culminating in the election of the central committee. This approach mirrors a bottom-up methodology. The entire process of the general convention is projected to conclude by July 2024, by which time the party will have elected its leadership.

Does the party take itself as an alternative force?

If one considers the current political parties as the mainstream force, then indeed, we are an alternative force, representing an alternative to the existing parties. People have increasingly viewed us as a viable alternative to the established parties. However, despite being perceived as an alternative force, we’ve already gained considerable traction as a mainstream party, holding the position as the fourth-largest force in the national parliament. Following the successful execution of ‘Mission84’, we anticipate ascending to the status of a major mainstream party.

How often do central leaders of your party engage with local-level leaders and the public?

Every member of our party, along with local leaders, holds a key to access the office of our party president, ensuring constant accessibility. Our party president and other central leaders consistently remain available and approachable. We conduct regular training programs for local leaders, with the active participation of central leaders, fostering an environment to cultivate competent leaders. The central leadership maintains an optimistic outlook regarding the development of capable leaders within our ranks.

Recently, RSP organized ‘Door-to-door’ and ‘Thank you’ programs, part of our ongoing engagement with the public. Such initiatives are integral to our commitment to staying connected with the commoners. These programs also serve as reminders of our grassroots connections. Nepalis place significant hope in us, and we remain committed to standing by their side, understanding their needs, and continuing this unwavering support.

RSP stands steadfastly available whenever Nepalis require our assistance. We aim to be with them in their joys and sorrows, contributing to restoring their hope for progress and development. While some may currently support us due to their dissatisfaction with other parties, we are determined not to engage in sentiment-based politics. Our focus is on demonstrating our capabilities and working earnestly for the people.

Despite some perceiving our public engagements as mere publicity stunts, we prioritize being present among the people and addressing their concerns. If this engagement is considered a stunt, we gladly accept that label, intending to continue these efforts. We encourage other parties to adopt similar approaches for the benefit of the public.

Our lawmakers maintain strong connections with the public and local leaders. They frequently engage with us, seeking suggestions and input. They actively liaise with the people, conduct research on their problems and advocate for their issues in the parliament. The presence of our lawmakers has notably shifted parliamentary practices toward a more fact-based approach in recent times.

Where do you find RSP in the clash between Republicans and Royalists?

The recent conflict, in my view, isn’t primarily about the Republicans versus the Royalists. It appears to be more centered on a dispute between CPN-UML and the Royalists, specifically involving Mahesh Basnet and Durga Prasai. Our party president Rabi Lamichhane has explicitly stated that RSP stands for the resolution of issues affecting the people. Therefore, our party aligns with Prasai’s stance on matters concerning the people’s concerns. Whether it’s individuals associated with UML, Nepali Congress or CPN (Maoist Center), we support those who raise people's issues. As for Prasai's political affiliations, we remain indifferent.

RSP’s ideology is rooted in constitutional socialism, signifying our unwavering support for the constitution of Nepal. We do not stand against Nepal’s constitutional framework or its system.

Dubai: In a significant development, the COP28 climate conference formally launched on Thursday a ‘loss and damage’ fund long sought by vulnerable countries highly affected  by disasters caused by global warming. Mainly, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) were demanding to operate the fund as soon as possible. 

“We have delivered history today,” the UAE’s COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber told delegates. He also pledged $100m to the fund. Germany also committed $100m to the loss and damage fund. After years of dithering, wealthy nations finally backed the fund in a landmark agreement at the COP27 summit held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, last year. “This sends a positive signal of momentum to the world and to our work,” Jaber said.

He said it was “the first time a decision has been adopted on day one of any COP and the speed in which we have done so is also unique, phenomenal and historic.” “This is evidence that we can deliver. COP28 can and will deliver,” he added. The two-week-long climate conference is being held at a pivotal moment, with emissions still climbing, and the UN warning that this year is likely to be the hottest in human history. 

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has already arrived in Dubai and is scheduled to address the conference on Dec 2. Dahal is expected to urge the international community to pay serious attention to fast-melting snows in the Himalayas and early opernationazation of loss and damage fund. 

Scientists say the world is off-track, and the nearly 200 nations gathering for COP28 must commit to accelerating climate action or risk the worst impacts of a warming planet.  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said leaders should aim for a complete ‘phaseout’ of fossil fuels, a proposal opposed by some powerful nations that has dogged past negotiations.

Before flying to Dubai, the UN boss told AFP that he was “strongly in favor of language that includes (a) phaseout, even with a reasonable time framework.” A central focus of the climate conference will be a stocktake of the world’s limited progress on curbing global warming, which requires an official response at these talks.

During the conference’s inaugural session, Simon Stiell, the executive secretary of COP28, expressed that humanity’s actions towards climate change have been incremental. “We are progressing too slowly from an unstable world lacking resilience towards formulating optimal responses to the complex challenges we are encountering,” he said. 

Stiell stressed the urgency: “We must hasten climate action; this year stands as the hottest ever for humanity.”

This year has witnessed several alarming records being shattered. From April to October, the oceans experienced record-high monthly temperatures, while July likely marked the hottest month on land in the last 120,000 years, as reported by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The WMO, in its latest announcement, deemed it ‘virtually certain’ that 2023 will be recorded as the hottest year globally. Secretary-General Prof Petteri Taalas highlighted an array of broken records associated with extreme weather events, characterizing the situation as a ‘cacophony of broken records’.

The release of the provisional findings by the global agency has been timed to inform discussions at COP28. The report urgently calls upon global leaders to take immediate action to curb fossil fuel emissions, the primary contributor to the escalating climate crisis.

According to data available until Oct 2023, global temperature has surpassed the pre-industrial average by 1.4°C, exceeding the previous hottest years of 2020 and 2016. The WMO stated that the final two months are unlikely to alter this outcome.

Secretary Stiell reiterated, “Failure to signify the conclusive decline of the fossil fuel era would equate to welcoming our own decline. This is a cost we choose to pay with people’s lives.”

A recent report by the United Nations estimates that up to $387bn will be needed annually if developing countries are to adapt to climate-driven changes. The fund will be hosted by the World Bank for the next four years and the plan is to launch it by 2024. A developing country representative will get a seat on its board.

Next 2-year vision of COP

• In 2024, nations are expected to submit their initial Biennial Transparency Reports.
• COP29 aims to reach an agreement on financing this substantial transition, establishing the new Finance Goal.
• At the outset of 2025, countries are mandated to present updated Nationally Determined Contributions.
• By the start of COP30, all commitments regarding finance, adaptation, and mitigation must align with the target of limiting global warming to a 1.5-degree Celsius world.

The Nepali Embassy in Moscow has confirmed the death of three Nepalis associated with the Russian Army. Their deaths reportedly occurred during the war with Ukraine. According to officials, they lost their lives on Nov 15.

Government agencies are collaborating with the Russian army to get more information about this incident. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) had, on Aug 1, responded to reports of Nepalis joining the Russian Army after videos started circulating on various social media platforms like Telegram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook, showing Nepalis enlisting in the Russian army. In response to these developments, the ministry had issued a warning, underscoring the potential dangers and challenges these individuals might encounter by engaging in such activities.

The ministry had cautioned citizens to be vigilant and mindful of the risks associated with participating in foreign military endeavors, highlighting the complexities that could arise during potential rescue operations in unforeseen circumstances.

Historically, Nepal has permitted citizens to join the national armies of certain friendly countries as “established agreements”, but there is no policy allowing Nepali citizens to enlist in other foreign armies. MoFA said, “The Government of Nepal does not have a policy in place to authorize Nepali citizens to join foreign armies, except in cases where Nepali citizens are recruited into the national armies of some friendly countries based on established agreements.” Moreover, citizens are strongly discouraged from seeking employment in security-related roles in conflict-ridden nations.

On Oct 28, The New York Times reported that Nepalis are associated with both the Russian and Ukrainian sides of the conflict.

Nepal is to organize a high-level event on the sidelines of 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) taking place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, from Nov 30 to Dec 12.

On Dec 2, Nepal will organize the event titled “Call of the mountain: Who saves us from the climate crisis?” This event aims to amplify Nepal’s stance on climate change and mountain while advocating for the mountain agenda within the COP negotiation process. According to sources, the event is a panel discussion, to be chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The panelists will have representatives from mountainous countries.

Prime Minister Dahal will lead the Nepali delegation and depart for Dubai on Nov 29. He will participate in the high-level segment of the COP28-World Climate Action Summit, scheduled for Dec 1-2. 

In a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stated that the prime minister will deliver a national statement on Dec 2 at COP28. Additionally, he is expected to attend the 52nd Union Day Celebration of the UAE and the Zayed Sustainability Prize Awards Ceremony hosted by the UAE.

During the high-level segment, Prime Minister Dahal will also engage in bilateral meetings with heads of state, government leaders and other eminent figures attending the COP, per MoFA.

Prime Minister Dahal’s schedule includes a keynote address at the Nepal-UAE Business Summit, a visit to the Embassy of Nepal in Abu Dhabi and interactions with the Nepali community.

PM Dahal to meet Modi

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the sidelines of COP28. 

According to sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two leaders will review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and regional issues. Earlier this year, Dahal visited India from May 30 to June 3. Both sides are working to implement agreements reached during Dahal’s visit.

American President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping are skipping the conference.

Kathmandu District Administration Office (DAO)  has declared the sensitive stretch between Maitighar Mandala and Baneshwor area a prohibited zone for 30 days starting Monday. 

The stretch covers Padmodaya Mod-Singhadurbar (West Gate), Supreme Court-Maitighar Mandala and Maitighar Mandala-New Baneshwor. 

Clause 6 (3A) of the Local Administration Act, 2028 bars the congregation of more than five people at a riot-hit area or if there’s a possibility of riots in an area. 

The reading of the ‘riot act’ comes after the DAO made it clear that it won’t let neither Durga Prasain (a pro-royalist) nor Mahesh Basnet (a CPN-UML leader) organize demonstrations at the nerve center of Maitighar Mandala, given concerns related to peace and security. 

In reference to the rival groups’ plans to ‘show their respective strength’ simultaneously at Maitighar Mandala on Nov 23, Assistant Chief District Officer Rabindra Prasad Acharya told ApEx earlier that they won’t allow either of the protesting party to organize their programs at Maitighar Mandala, given its proximity to major hospitals, ministries, courts and schools. “We won’t allow the opposing sides to organize programs at the same place, time and date,” he added, “We have told them to conduct their programs at separate venues.”

In line with the DAO’s decision, the UML-aligned Yuva Sangh has relocated their demonstration at Tinkune. However, Prasain’s side has not responded to DAO’s ruling yet.

Acharya said the DAO was in constant contact with both sides, and the latter were okay with separate venues for their respective programs. “We will ensure security for both sides,” he said. 

The Yuva Sangh has announced a ‘demonstration of youth and students against the government and anarchists’ on Nov 23, while Prasain plans to launch a ‘nation, nationality, religion, culture, and civil protection campaign’ at the same time and place, giving rise to fear of clashes.

Of late, Basnet and Prasain, a former leftist leader, have come to blows, verbally, pointing at worsening relations between the two political forces. The UML expressed dissatisfaction with Prasain after his statement alleging UML Chair KP Oli’s ‘huge investments’ in Cambodia. Prasain has also charged that Basnet was behind a recent incident where a youth painted black soot on his face. On his part, Basnet has blamed a group for creating obstructions at the behest of Prasain while he was heading to Jhapa for attending a program.

In view of possible clashes between the two sides, the Home Ministry has held discussions with Chief District Officers (CDOs) and police chiefs of all three districts of the Kathmandu valley.

Spokesperson at the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, SP Dinesh Raj Mainali, said CDOs, who chair respective District Security Committees, were working in close coordination to ensure security. “We have been closely monitoring the developments and assessing security threats,” he said, adding that their focus will be on keeping the peace.