Nepal to seeks global support at COP29

A flash flood and mudslide struck Thame village in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu district on August 16. The villagers had not anticipated such a disaster. In an instant, the flash flood transformed Thame village into barren land.

For Tasi Lhamu Sherpa, Vice-chairperson of Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality, the sudden event still feels like a dream. “We are vulnerable to climate-induced risks,” he said, adding, “People here are still worried about the possibility of avalanches.”

The disaster was triggered by continuous rainfall across multiple areas, including the Kathmandu Valley, from Sept 26 to 28. According to data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 250 people lost their lives over those three days. Additionally, 18 people went missing, at least 178 were injured, and about 6,000 private homes were damaged, as reported by NDRRMA.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has warned that rice production will decrease due to heavy rains at the harvesting stage.

Three years ago, unseasonal floods caused paddy losses worth over Rs 8bn, according to ministry statistics.

The Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee reported that flooding in the Melamchi and Indrawati Rivers in Sindhupalchowk, less than a week after the monsoon onset three years ago, caused significant damage to the project. As a result, preparations are being made to relocate the Melamchi project’s ‘Herdbox’ to a safer site.

After a nearly three-decade wait, Kathmandu residents’ hopes of accessing Melamchi drinking water were shattered by the flood. The project now operates only in the winter, closing each rainy season due to flood risks.

This year alone, 495 people have died, 66 are missing, and 522 have been injured due to monsoon-related disasters, according to NDRRMA.

Such climate-change-related risks are becoming increasingly common.

The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has begun in Baku, Azerbaijan, and will run until Nov 22. Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel, leading the Nepali delegation, will address the global summit.

According to the President’s Secretariat, he will emphasize the urgent need for mountain and environmental protection in meetings with heads of state and senior officials from over 192 countries.

Sindhu Prasad Dhungana, Chief of the Climate Change Management Division under the Ministry of Forest and Environment, noted that examples of climate-induced disasters, including the Thame glacial outburst, will be presented at COP29.

“We will advocate for access to climate finance to address loss and damage from climate impacts,” he said. Other key issues include international climate finance access, capacity building, and technology support for Nepal’s second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP).

The economic toll from climate-related events has increased significantly. “We face disastrous events from glacial melt, snow, and landslides,” Dhungana noted. “We will request adequate funding from nations responsible for major emissions.”

Kamal Raj Joshi, Director General of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, warned that 47 major glacial lakes in Nepal are at risk of outburst, which could result in significant human and economic losses. “Twenty-five of the most vulnerable glacial lakes are in China, 21 are in Nepal, and one is in India,” he said, stressing the need for greater investment to reduce these risks.

Climate expert Manjeet Dhakal stated that showcasing these climate risks at COP29 would support Nepal’s case for international assistance.

New research by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) indicates that climate change could reduce GDP in developing Asia and the Pacific by 17 percent by 2070. According to a study by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the Hindu Kush Himalayan region is experiencing glacier melt at a rate three times the global average, with glacier melting increasing by 65 percent between 2011 and 2020.

Developing countries like Nepal are preparing to pressure the global community to mitigate climate change impacts in mountainous regions. The Nepali delegation at COP29 is focusing on six priority areas to combat climate risks and advance national interests.

The Ministry of Forest and Environment has prepared six thematic papers on climate finance, loss and damage, carbon trading, emissions measurement, mountain issues, technology, capacity building, climate adaptation, and inclusion.

Joint-Secretary Buddhi Poudel stated, “We have prepared Nepal’s national position paper, covering topics such as climate adaptation, climate finance, agriculture and food systems, health and climate, energy transition, water and climate action, and nature for climate.”

There is a push for effective implementation of the Climate Loss and Damage Fund established at COP28 in Dubai, UAE, last year.