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Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry is visiting Nepal on Dec 20-22 to attend the inaugural session of the Nepal-Sri Lanka Joint Commission. 

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the commission will focus on a wide range of areas of bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and Nepal, including trade and investment, tourism, education, defense, culture, connectivity and people-to-people contacts. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation will also be signed during the visit. On the sidelines, Foreign Minister Sabry is scheduled to have bilateral talks with his Nepali counterpart Narayan Prakash Saud. He will pay courtesy calls on President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, apart from meeting the Sri Lankan expatriate community.

Few weeks ago, I was standing in the mighty Himalayas—on an unforgettable visit to beautiful Nepal enjoying the most wonderful hospitality that I could ever imagine and I’m very grateful to the government and the people of Nepal for their warm welcome and for the opportunity that they provided to me. It is deeply shocking to learn how fast the Himalayan glaciers are melting. And deeply distressing to hear first-hand from local communities about the terrible impact on their lives.  

Nepal, and other vulnerable mountain countries, are being pounded by a crisis that is not of their making. The country has lost close to a third of its ice in just over thirty years—a direct result of the greenhouse [gas] pollution heating our planet. That means swollen lakes and rivers flooding, sweeping away entire communities. It means rising seas threatening communities around the world.  And melting is accelerating. Unless we change course, we will unleash catastrophe: The glaciers could disappear altogether. That means massively reduced flows for major Himalayan rivers like the Indus, the Ganges and Brahmaputra. Deltas decimated by saltwater.  

Low-lying communities wiped out, millions of people forced from their homes, and floods and droughts accelerated around the world. Nepal’s mountains are crying out for help and COP28 must respond. The Global Stocktake must look forward and create the conditions for a surge in global climate action in 2025 and beyond. Critically, we need this COP to deliver in three areas:  First, finance and climate justice.  There can be no climate action without the money to pay for it.  

I am calling for developed countries to clarify the delivery of the $100bn, and to produce a clear plan to double adaptation finance to $40bn a year by 2025—as a first step to devoting half of climate finance to adaptation. But those sums are dwarfed by the scale of what’s needed. So, we need the outcome of this COP to call for reform of the International Financial Institutions so that they reflect today’s world and are far more responsive to the needs of developing countries.  

And for reform of the business models of the Multilateral Development Banks so that they can leverage far more private finance at reasonable cost to developing countries like Nepal. Responding to the climate disaster shouldn’t create a financial disaster. So, we also need the outcome of the COP to support an increase in the proportion of climate finance delivered as grants and concessional finance.  And I am calling for countries to boost support for the Loss and Damage Fund. It was an extremely important decision to move forward with it, but we must allocate  money into it. 

Second, this COP needs to set the world up for emissions to plummet. The door is closing at 1.5 degrees. But a sliver of light remains. This COP outcome must set a clear expectation that countries’ 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions will align with the 1.5-degree limit, cover the whole economy, and be delivered on time.  And it must chart a course for a fair, just, and equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewables. The science is clear: ultimately fossil fuels must go.  

We need a clear commitment to double energy efficiency, and bring clean energy to all, by 2030.   And to phase out fossil fuels on a timeframe compatible with achieving the 1.5 degree goal of the Paris Agreement. Finally, the Global Stocktake must strengthen international cooperation. The goals of the Paris Agreement depend on it.  We need collaboration between the government, and between countries and companies, to drive down emissions, and to protect everyone on earth with an effective early warning system by 2027 and Nepal is an essential candidate to have an effective early warning system. The mountains are issuing a distress call. COP28 must respond with a rescue plan and let’s give our all to making that, that reality emerges from the COP.

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.

China has expressed concerns over the Nepal government’s decision to ban popular video app TikToK. On Nov 14, the government took the decision to ban it stating that it is disturbing social harmony and family structures. In a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal a few days back, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song, expressed the displeasure over the TikTok ban, sources said, he also expressed concerns whether there are geopolitical factors behind such an abrupt decision of Nepal government. In response, Dahal made it clear that the government was forced to shut down TikTok due to the misuse of this app to inflame anti-social contents.

Dahal further added that the government is in favor of regulation of this app instead of complete ban, and working on it. According to sources, the Chinese side is not satisfied with the Dahal’s clarification. TikTok is a wholly owned subsidiary of Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd, which appoints its executives. 

TikTok has already expressed its displeasure over the government’s decision. More than dozens petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court. The SC has sought clarification from the government regarding the government's move.