Redirect arms funds to climate action: President Paudel at COP29

President Ramchandra Paudel emphasized the need to redirect vast resources currently spent on arms towards adaptation and mitigation efforts to protect human civilization and ensure a habitable planet for future generations.

Speaking as the leader of the Nepali delegation at the COP29 World Leaders Climate Action Summit underway in Baku, Azerbaijan, President Paudel noted that countries like Nepal are forced to divert their limited resources, initially allocated for poverty reduction, toward adaptation and mitigation—a significant injustice.

"While pledges for climate funding were insufficient from the start, they have also remained unmet. It is even more troubling that targeted communities do not receive these funds due to complicated processes," he said, calling for urgent implementation of the "polluter pays and compensates" principle.

He also urged the immediate operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund to support vulnerable developing countries. Climate finance, he said, must recognize contributions from countries like Nepal in preserving biodiversity, protecting the Himalayan cryosphere, and supplying freshwater. These nations should be adequately compensated for climate-related loss and damage.

Highlighting Nepal's commitment to sustainable resource use, President Paudel noted that Nepal has increased forest cover and enhanced clean energy production in line with its ambitious emission reduction target under the second NDC, contributing to global well-being and environmental protection. However, he added, "The challenges of global warming and climate change far exceed our capacity and resources."

Delivering his statement in Nepali, the President also stressed the need for technology transfer and adequate capacity-building grants under the Paris Agreement. He insisted climate finance be provided as grants, disbursed through national treasuries to ensure effectiveness.

He expressed hope that the Conference would achieve concrete progress on setting a clear NCQG vector, based on climate justice, equity, and capacity, to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and advance sustainable development in least-developed and Himalayan nations.

The full text of President Paudel’s statement is as follows:

Mr President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I begin by thanking the Republic of Azerbaijan for organizing the 29th climate change conference.

Mr President,

1. Climate justice and reparations for loss and damage are my paramount concerns today.

2. Nepal's carbon emissions are negligible, yet we suffer from the severe impacts of global warming and climate change. Recent climate-induced disasters, such as glacial lake outbursts and devastating floods, have caused damages worth billions. Recovery and reconstruction are challenging given our limited resources.

3. Climate change affects the entire planet, but its impacts are especially severe for poor, least-developed, and developing nations, as well as small island developing states (SIDS).

Mr President,

4. Nepal is committed to sustainable resource use. We have increased forest cover and clean energy production as part of our ambitious emission reduction targets under our second NDC.

5. However, the challenges posed by global warming exceed our capacity and resources.

Mr President,

6. We are forced to divert scarce resources originally meant for poverty reduction towards climate adaptation and mitigation—a profound injustice. Urgent implementation of the "polluter pays" principle is essential, with responsibility for reducing emissions resting on those who contribute the most.

7. Climate fund pledges have been insufficient and often unmet. Complicated processes further prevent targeted communities from receiving these funds.

8. I call for the urgent operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund to support vulnerable developing countries. Climate finance should recognize the contributions of countries like Nepal in protecting biodiversity, the Himalayan cryosphere, and freshwater resources. These nations deserve compensation for climate-related loss and damage.

9. I call for technology transfer and adequate capacity-building grants in line with the Paris Agreement and developed countries' commitments.

10. Climate finance must be grants-based and should be disbursed through national treasuries for maximum effectiveness.

Mr President,

11. The vast resources spent on arms should be redirected to adaptation and mitigation efforts, preserving human civilization and ensuring a habitable planet for future generations.

12. I hope this Conference will make concrete progress toward establishing a clear NCQG vector based on climate justice, equity, and capacity, limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, and ensuring climate justice and sustainable development for least-developed and Himalayan nations.

13. As Nepal’s snow-covered mountains turn into black rocks, the world must recognize that these effects reach coastal nations as well. It is time to implement integrated adaptation strategies connecting mountains to the sea. Nepal is organizing the “Sagarmatha Sambad”—Everest Dialogue—to promote this concept.

14. In conclusion, protecting the Himalayas is essential to protecting humanity worldwide.

Thank you for your attention.