Editorial: Exclusion undermine Nepal’s COP29 participation

As the 29th United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29) approaches in Baku, Azerbaijan, Nepal’s delegation under President Ram Chandra Paudel is set to represent the nation’s climate challenges. Nepal, one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, faces rising threats from floods, landslides and unpredictable weather patterns. Yet, while Nepal’s participation aims to spotlight these urgent issues, the participation fails to reflect the voices of those most affected. Like always, this year’s COP preparation also exposes the troubling disconnect between official representation and grassroots needs.

Rather than including those directly affected by climate change—the farmers, local leaders and activists who confront these impacts daily—Nepal’s delegation comprises primarily political insiders and elites from NGOs and INGOs. Despite claiming to advocate for the vulnerable, these organizations have not extended a real invitation to those at the frontlines of climate change. Pre-COP meetings are being held in star hotels with closed doors to grassroots representatives, the very people whose insights and lived experiences could bring authenticity and urgency to the global stage. Instead, the delegation’s composition reflects political favoritism, not the inclusivity that should define climate advocacy.

The exclusion of affected communities, civil society and media professionals specializing in climate reporting raises serious concerns. Nepal’s most vulnerable regions are disproportionately impacted by climate change. Yet their voices remain unheard. UN agencies, NGOs and INGOs have largely ignored calls for transparency in the selection process, leaving the delegation stacked with privileged individuals who may lack genuine engagement with climate challenges on the ground.

For Nepal’s participation at COP29 to be meaningful, it must represent more than political interests. The experiences and insights of those facing climate-induced hardships must drive Nepal’s agenda, pushing for adaptive solutions rooted in the realities of vulnerable communities. Without grassroots representation, Nepal risks losing credibility on the international stage and, more critically, missing a vital opportunity to advocate for true climate justice. It is time for a change, ensuring that those directly affected by climate change have a seat at the table.