Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal Dr Madan Prasad Pariyar today attended the Thirtieth Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), being held in Belém, Brazil, from 10–21 November 2025, renewing its call for stronger global climate justice efforts.
The Ministerial segment of COP30 officially began this morning with remarks from Vice President of Brazil Geraldo Alckmin, the President of COP30 André Corrêa do Lago, ministers, and senior UN officials.
In his address, Minister Pariyar highlighted Nepal’s major climate challenges—ranging from retreating glaciers and severe drought to unseasonal floods and impacts on agriculture, reads a statement issued by the Nepali Embassy in Brazil.
He outlined Nepal’s ambitious NDC3.0, which charts a trajectory toward zero emissions by 2045. “As one of the world’s most nature-connected nations, our forest cover now exceeds 46 percent."
Calling on developed countries to fulfill past commitments on climate finance, the minister added that it is the duty of every country to submit ambitious NDCs, fulfill treaty obligations, and honor the ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate justice.
He emphasized that all parties, including emerging economies, must engage constructively to keep the 1.5-degree goal within reach.
Minister Pariyar also pressed for the urgent need to integrate a dedicated mountain agenda into UNFCCC processes, referring to the Sagarmatha Sambaad held in Kathmandu in May this year, according to the statement.
Prior to his statement, Minister Pariyar interacted with stakeholders—both present in Belém and online—on progress made so far and the way forward. Participants were briefed on Nepal’s engagements in various agenda areas, including climate finance, adaptation, Loss and Damage, transparency, Global Stocktake, gender, and mountains.
Apart from his intervention at the plenary, Minister Pariyar also attended important side events and engaged at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
Attending an event organized by the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative aimed at achieving a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels this morning, the minister outlined Nepal’s plans to scale up clean-energy practices, including the increasing adoption of EVs and electric ovens.
Also today, he joined the Ministerial Meeting of LDCs, which marked the handover of the presidency of the LDC Group on climate change.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Pariyar appreciated the contributions of Malawi as the outgoing Chair in advancing the Group’s priorities, while pledging Nepal’s solidarity and support to the incoming presidency of Timor-Leste, the statement further reads.
Later in the afternoon, he joined ministers from member countries of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) to amplify collective efforts to protect climate and biodiversity by safeguarding big cats. As a founding member of IBCA, Nepal reiterated its firm commitment to advancing the Alliance’s goals.
As part of his bilateral engagements, he met yesterday with Ibrahim Cheikh Diong, Executive Director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage. The two sides exchanged views on opportunities for Nepal to access financing from the Loss and Damage Fund for suitable national projects. Minister Pariyar is scheduled to meet Bhupender Yadav, India’s Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on the sidelines tomorrow.
Nepal will host a side event entitled “Sagarmatha to Belém: Advancing Climate Action”, with the objective of reviewing progress made since the adoption of the Sagarmatha Call for Action and developing strategies to advance the mountain agenda within the UNFCCC processes, according to the statement.
Ministers and senior officials from mountainous countries, along with UN officials, will be attending the event.
He is also scheduled to participate in the Ministerial event “Melting Point and the 1.5°C Goal: Global Impacts of Cryosphere Loss and Pathways to Return from Overshoot”, organized by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative.
The Minister, who arrived in Belém on November 15, is scheduled to return home on November 19.
