COP-29: Full text of President Paudel’s address at special session
KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel has emphasized that climate change is a common challenge for everyone and that addressing this shared issue requires a collective understanding and concerted efforts.
He made these remarks while addressing a special session organized by Nepal under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-29), which began on Nov 11.
In the session, titled “Addressing Climate-Induced Damages in Mountain Regions,” President Paudel highlighted that bringing together similarly affected nations for discussions makes it easier to understand and solve the challenges related to climate change.
Full Text:
Honorable Presidents of Kyrgyzstan,
Honorable Presidents of Maldives,
Honorable Presidents of Azerbaijan,
Heads and representatives of development partner organizations,
Heads and representatives of various countries,
Media representatives,
First of all, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for accepting our invitation and participating actively in this event.
Climate change is a shared challenge for all of us, and to face this common challenge, we must build a shared understanding and collective effort. This is why we have organized this program.
By bringing together countries that are similarly affected by climate change, we believe it will be easier to understand the problems and find solutions. It is natural for each country to consider its own challenges as significant, but the climate challenges faced by Nepal in recent days have been particularly heartbreaking.
Just three months ago, the breaking of a glacial lake near Mount Everest washed away the entire Thame village, despite the area having no human settlements. Similarly, in the last three months, more than 500 people in Nepal have lost their lives due to climate-related disasters, and the country has suffered damages amounting to billions of dollars. The scale of loss can also be seen in the recent floods and inundations in Spain, and the hurricane in the Caribbean last July. In the future, no one knows when or who will be affected by such human crises, but we, the Nepali people, believe that it is our moral duty to offer help to any country facing such problems today.
The climate risks faced by mountainous countries can also impact maritime nations, and as sea levels rise, this will affect coastal areas. Therefore, I sincerely request that, in the coming days, mountainous countries and island nations work together in a unified and coordinated manner on shared programs.
Primarily, developed nations, which are major carbon emitters, and countries with high economic growth rates must provide more support for nations that are most vulnerable to climate risks. I strongly believe that the 29th Climate Conference will succeed in managing climate finance in a more effective manner.
As the impacts of climate change are multifaceted, I also urge that damage and loss be included in new integrated numerical targets for climate finance management.
Finally, I would like to once again express my sincere thanks to all distinguished guests and conclude this event. In closing, I appeal to the world for nature conservation and end my remarks with a quote from the Vedas.
