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On a chilly November afternoon, some 3,700 meters above the sea level, Prasana Pariyar was sitting in an open field, imagining a snow leopard appearing on a cliff of rugged Himalayan terrain in Mustang district.

As the eighth grader from Dhaulagiri Boarding School focused her mind trying to conjure up the form of a snow leopard in her head, four other girls were recalling the stories that their parents and grandparents had told them about how snow leopards used to enter their villages and attack livestock.

“I have heard many stories about snow leopards. I also studied about snow leopards as part of conservation education at school. Now, I am trying to craft a story from everything I know,” said Pariyar.

Meanwhile, some of the students were being instructed by artist Rajman Maharjan to paint a snow leopard. Kristina Thakali, who goes to Janahit Secondary School, was one of them. 

“There were two options, story writing or drawing, and I chose drawing. I am excited to draw the queen of mountains,” said Thakali. Through her art, she was trying to reflect the significance of conserving the snow leopard and its ecosystem.

Under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the snow leopard is listed as ‘Vulnerable.’ It is estimated that there are 300-500 snow leopards in Nepal’s high mountains. Nepal has the fourth largest population of these elusive cats after China, Mongolia and India.

Pariyar and Thakali were joined by 10 students from six government schools of Mustang, who spent two days in the field together as part of the Snow Leopard Scout’s Monitoring Camp under the theme “Love the Snow Leopard, Protect the Balance of Nature”. They were accompanied by their teachers.

The scout camp was organized by Teka Samuha Nepal with the technical and financial assistance from Snow Leopard Conservancy. According to Anil Adhikari, founder and executive director of the organization, the field trip was organized to spread awareness among children about the importance of snow leopard conservation.

“The camp serves as a practical session to the students to observe and understand the prey and habitat of the snow leopard. These students had enrolled in the Snow-Leopard-based Conservation Education Book 1 & 2, implemented in Mustang and Taplejung districts,” said Adhikari. 

Since there has been no recent study on population status of snow leopards in Mustang, Adhikari underscored the need of conducting surveys on snow leopards and their prey species.

Teka has been working closely with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, National Trust for Nature Conservation and Annapurna Conservation Area Project to execute these camps. So far, five residential camps comprising students, teachers, scientists, rangers and experts have been carried out in Mustang.

A similar camp was conducted in Taplejung district to enrich students’ understanding of snow leopards, their prey, habitat, conversation, and their correlation with local inhabitants.

In Mustang’s Muktinath area, the students not just presented their stories and drawings, but also learnt about camping and camera-trapping technology for snow leopards. They hiked up to nearly 4,000 meters above the sea level, towards the base of Thorong La Pass, and spent hours learning GPS monitoring and methods of camera-trapping.

“This unique approach of training students about the protected species and the use of technology is really exciting and valuable,” said one of the participating teachers. 

The students were provided practical lessons by the citizen scientist Ramesh BK, a local of Mustang, who has been working in the scout camps since 2012.

“The locals are well aware of the habitat, movement and activities of the snow leopard, including scrape and pug marks. The local and indigenous knowledge is important for conservation,” he said.

BK has a personal experience of capturing snow leopards with the use of camera traps. He had captured at least four snow leopards at Namu hill in Mustang, which he regards as a great achievement of his career. He wants to pursue similar monitoring activities in his locality but lacks funding and technical support. 

“I would even volunteer for camera trapping, provided the availability of cameras and other gear, but I feel there is lack of seriousness from the government side,” he said.

As per reports, though Nepal has a good number of snow leopards, there is a lack of monitoring programs and genetic tools to estimate the real number and the threat status. 

In the second week of November, snow leopards had killed over 80 mountain goats in a single shed in Mustang, causing a loss worth over Rs 3m. Such attacks have become more frequent in recent years.

Rinzin Namgyal Gurung, chairman of the Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality, said there is a need for minimizing human-wildlife conflict and attacks on livestock through awareness campaigns and developing local capacity. 

“Snow leopards attacking the local livestock has become common, but there are problems when it comes to compensating the livestock owners. It’s a bitter fact that the mountain region doesn’t get much attention in terms of compensation scheme as compared to the Tarai region. We are trying to raise the issue with the authorities,” said Gurung.

NewYork-  The United States has returned four antiquities worth $1 million to Nepal, including a pair of gilt copper masks representing a Hindu deity, following anti-trafficking operations, New York authorities said on Monday.

One of the items was seized as part of a probe into Subhash Kapoor, whom Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg described as an "allegedly prolific looter who helped traffic items" from several Asian countries.

Between 2011 and 2023, officials claim to have recovered more than 2,500 items trafficked by Kapoor and his network, Bragg's office said in a statement.

"The total value of the pieces recovered exceeds $143 million," it added.

"We will continue to target antiquities trafficking networks no matter how complex. I thank our outstanding team of analysts and attorneys... for recovering and returning these beautiful pieces," Bragg said.

The four items given back to Nepalese authorities were handed over at a ceremony in New York.

"The return of these illegally exported four masterpieces is a significant step in reclaiming Nepal’s cultural heritage and preserving its historical treasures," said Nepal’s acting consul general in New York Bishnu Prasad Gautam.

The masks, from the 16th century and collectively valued at $900,000, depict Shiva, part of the Hindu trinity.

"Both masks were stolen in the mid-1990s as part of a series of break-in robberies from the home of the family" whose relatives made them, Bragg's office said.

In recent years, the New York's Met and other prestigious museums have agreed to return trafficked works, in particular pieces from countries riddled by conflict from 1970 to 1990.

Under Bragg, who has been in office since 2022, more than 1,000 pieces worth $190 million have been returned to 19 countries, including Cambodia, China, India and Pakistan. AFP 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the death of six Nepali nationals who were serving in the Russian army.

Issuing a press statement on Monday, the ministry identified the deceased as Sandeep Thapaliya (Gorkha), Rupak Karki (Kapilvastu), Dewan Rai (Kaski), Prateem Karki (Syangja), Raj Kumar Rokka (Dolakha) and Ganga Raj Moktan (Ilam). 

The ministry also stated that one Bibek Karki was currently being held hostage by the Ukraine army, and efforts were underway to rescue him. Except in the case of some countries, Nepal does not have a policy of allowing Nepali nationals to join a foreign army. The ministry also requested all concerned countries not to recruit Nepali nationals in their armies, and to send them back if they already have. 

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.