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COP30 Leaders’ Summit concluded with the adoption of the ‘Call of Belém for the Climate’, a declaration urging accelerated global efforts to confront the worsening climate crisis. Meeting in the Amazonian city of Belém—33 years after the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement—heads of state reaffirmed their commitment to multilateral climate action, solidarity, and sustainability.

The declaration underscored that “climate change is no longer a threat of the future—it is a tragedy of the present.” Leaders highlighted the urgent need to address intensifying floods, droughts, and wildfires that disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. The Call of Belém emphasized bridging the “ambition, implementation, and means-of-implementation gaps” that continue to hinder progress toward the 1.5°C target.

The declaration outlined several key priorities, including tripling adaptation finance by 2030 and fully operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund. It also emphasized implementing the Baku–Belém Roadmap, which aims to mobilize $1.3trn annually by 2035 for developing countries. Leaders stressed the need to strengthen climate governance, reform global financial systems, and expand fair, grant-based climate finance. 

Furthermore, the declaration called for advancing the transition away from fossil fuels in a just and equitable manner to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, while integrating technology transfer, digital innovation, and inclusive development into all aspects of climate action.

‘Climate crisis is our daily reality’

Representing Nepal at the summit, government officials reaffirmed the country’s leadership in nature conservation and sustainable development despite its negligible carbon footprint.

“Nearly 46 percent of Nepal’s land remains under forest cover, protected in partnership with local communities and Indigenous Peoples,” Nepal’s statement read. “Home to Mount Everest and the Himalayas, our country sustains vital ecosystems that provide clean air and fresh water to billions downstream,” said Rajendra Prasad Mishra, Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment.

Nepal highlighted its rapid transition toward electric mobility and clean energy, and its strong policy frameworks through NDC 3.0 and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP). Earlier this year, the country hosted the Sagarmatha Sambaad, a global dialogue that reinforced collective commitment to multilateralism and keeping global warming below 1.5°C.

However, the statement warned that for mountain nations like Nepal, “the climate crisis is not a future threat but a daily reality.” Over 300 lives were lost this year alone to floods, landslides, droughts, glacial lake outbursts, and forest fires intensified by extreme temperatures.

Nepal called on COP30 to deliver concrete outcomes, including the realization of the Baku–Belém Roadmap for mobilizing $1.3trn in climate finance, tripling adaptation finance, and fully operationalizing the Loss and Damage Fund with simplified and direct access for vulnerable countries. “We no longer have the luxury of delay,” Nepal’s statement concluded. “Let us act now—together—to safeguard our people, their livelihoods, and our planet.”

Youths call for climate justice and inclusion

Youths have called for urgent and equitable climate action through a pre-COP30 discussion with government representatives including Madan Prasad Pariyar, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development. The dialogue “From the Himalayas to the Amazon: Understanding Climate Negotiations and Nepal’s Engagement” highlighted youth priorities and Nepal’s climate agenda, connecting voices from the Himalayas to the Amazon. For young people in Nepal, a country contributing less than 0.1 percent of global emissions yet among the most climate-vulnerable, the climate crisis is not a future concern but a lived reality. Melting glaciers, erratic rainfall, and worsening floods and droughts have already threatened livelihoods, ecosystems, and our collective future.

In Nepal, youth are already leading the way, organizing climate campaigns, promoting clean energy, and advancing resilience in communities. Yet, their inclusion in decision-making remains limited. Genuine youth participation must be institutionalized, not symbolic, so that young people are recognized as partners in shaping climate policy and solutions, they say.

The event, organized by Clean Energy Nepal, Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA), and in collaboration with other youth networks, aimed to strengthen youth understanding of international climate processes and align youth advocacy with Nepal’s national climate priorities.  “This initiative gave us the platform to translate our concerns into concrete policy recommendations. Nepalese youth are not only demanding change, we are helping shape it,” said Aakriti Dotel, Network Coordinator of NYCA.

During the meeting, youth representatives presented a joint statement outlining collective priorities for Nepal’s engagement at COP30. In their official submission to the Ministry, they urged the government to keep 1.5°C alive by upholding science-based ambition, emphasizing that every fraction of a degree matters for mountains and communities. 

They called for climate justice, prioritizing fairness for the Global South and ensuring that vulnerable nations receive support rather than debt. The statement highlighted the need for grant-based finance, technology transfer, and capacity building to enhance adaptation and resilience, alongside the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund for recovery from unavoidable climate impacts. It further called for 80 percent of climate finance to be directed toward locally led adaptation efforts.

The youths also emphasized the importance of advancing the Dushanbe Glacier Declaration 2025, integrating the mountain agenda into global policy, and institutionalizing the participation of youth, women, and Indigenous Peoples in all climate processes. Additional priorities included promoting clean energy and a just transition through renewable energy and green jobs, recognizing the linkages between climate change, health, and sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), and upholding accountability and human rights in line with the ICJ ruling obligating all nations to align their actions with the 1.5°C target. 

Minister Pariyar welcomed the youth recommendations, assuring that their perspectives would be integrated into Nepal’s COP30 position. “Youth voices are vital in shaping effective climate strategies. The government will continue to create platforms for young people to contribute meaningfully to climate action,” he said.

The Third Trans-Himalaya Communication and Social Development Conference concluded at the Camera Building, CDJMC on Saturday, highlighting stronger and reliable information exchange across the region.

Inaugurating the two-day conference, Prof. Deepak Aryal, PhD underscored the importance of trustworthy information in combating misinformation.

While concluding the event, Prof. Kedar Prasad Rijal, PhD, emphasized the importance of greater cooperation among Trans-Himalayan societies despite their diverse cultural contexts.

Scholars from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, China, the United States, Japan, and Nepal participated in six sessions, including the main forum, where they discussed building a shared future in the digital era and strengthening cross-cultural communication.

The conference also reiterated the importance of reliable information in promoting awareness of climate change mitigation and early warning systems.

Similarly, participants expressed concern over the ethical and responsible use of social media in the evolving communication ecosystem.

Prof. Khadga KC, Rector of Tribhuvan University, along with Prof. Han Hong, Prof. Chen Changfeng, Prof. Manukonda Rabindranath, and Prof. Taibur Rahman, spoke on diverse issues related to global and cross-cultural communication in the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Kundan Aryal from the Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communication said that Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism, though distinct, have long coexisted and profoundly influenced one another in Chinese and Nepali cultures over the centuries, thereby enhancing people-to-people cross-cultural communication.

Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor of Annapurna Express, remarked that social media use in Nepal largely follows traditional patterns of new media engagement.

Professor Han Hong, Director of the Center for Trans-Himalayan Communication, said that Conferences like this are crucial for promoting knowledge exchange and strengthening community ties.

“We are committed to organizing similar programs in the coming years to build on this positive impact,” said Hang Hong.

The conference was jointly organized by the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China and Tribhuvan University, in collaboration with Kangba TV (China) and Himalaya TV (Nepal).

A person died after a vehicle carrying vegetables hit a group of pedestrians at Tanakpur in Ghodaghodi Municipality, Kailali on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Shankar Dagaura (55) of Bardagoriya Rural Municipality-6.

He was riding a bicycle when the vehicle ((Lu2Cha 2358) hit him early this morning, DSP Ramesh Awasthi, Chief of the Area Police Office, Sukhad, said.

Seriously injured Dagaura was declared dead upon arrival at Ghodaghodi Hospital. Three other people were injured in the accident.

The injured have been identified as Padam Bahadur Shahi (54) of Sadepani, Ghodaghodi-2, Harka Bahadur Dagoura (45) of Tulsipur, Kota, Bardagoriya Rural Municipality-6, and Krishna Dagoura (25) of Bardagoriya-6. They are undergoing treatment at Ghodaghodi Hospital.

Shahi has been referred to Dhangadhi for further treatment.

Police have arrested jeep driver Santosh Ghartimagar (23) of Triveni Rural Municipality-4, Rolpa, for investigation, the Area Police Office said.

A pedestrian died after being hit by a passenger bus at Master Chowk, Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City-9, Makwanpur, along the East-West Highway on Saturday.

The deceased has been identified as Ram Bahadur Bohara (37) of Devdaha Municipality-8, Rupandehi.

The bus (Ba Pra 03-001 Kha 2656) was heading towards Kathmandu from Janakpur when the incident occurred last night.

Seriously injured in the accident, he was taken to the Hetauda Hospital but the doctors pronounced him dead on arrival, Deputy Superintendent of Police Pushkar Bogati, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Makwanpur said.

Police have taken the bus driver, Sujay Kumar Singh (33) of Ramgopalpur Municipality-6, Mahottari under control for investigation.