Karnali Declaration, one of Nepal’s major agenda for COP29: Minister Shahi

KATHMANDU: Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi, has said that Nepal will present the Karnali Declaration on climate justice at the upcoming 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP29) taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, next month.

During a pre-COP29 orientation organized by the Climate Change Management Division at Chandragiri, the Minister assured participants of Nepal’s effective participation in COP29.

The three-day event began on Wednesday.

He said Nepal will participate in the forum with sufficient preparations and give its effective presence. As the Minister said, the session on Climate Finance scheduled to be held during the Conference is crucial for Nepal when it is challenging for developing countries like Nepal to address the climate change crisis without adequate financial support.

It may be noted that a workshop on climate change as preparation for COP29 was collaboratively organised by the Ministry and an organization Sath Sathai on Oct 19-20 in Karnali.

The gathering participated by several climate experts, and people’s representatives from all districts in the Karnali State concluded by issuing the five-point Karnali Declaration. The Minister said the Declaration will be significant for COP 29.

“We should focus on limiting the temperature rise at 1.5 degrees,” the Minister said, adding that the world should prioritize the need to promote clean and durable energy resources and reduce carbon emissions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

During the Karnali workshop, Karnali’s local representatives said agricultural loss, depletion of water resources, and the reduction in snowfall are among the perceived consequences of climate change lately seen in Karnali, according to the Minister.

Similarly, Minister of State for Forests and Environment, Rupa BK, stressed that Nepal should assertively voice its concerns at the Conference, advocating for developed nations to provide financial and technical support to help developing countries implement climate-friendly initiatives.

The event is being attended by Secretary of the Ministry, Deepak Kumar Kharal, and representatives from various organizations.