President Paudel emphasizes climate justice, climate finance, and compensation

KATHMANDU: At COP29 held in Baku, Azerbaijan, Nepal has emphasized the issues of climate justice, climate finance, and compensation.

A Nepali delegation led by President Ram Chandra Paudel, which participated in COP-29 held in Baku, Azerbaijan, has returned to Nepal today.

Speaking to the media at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Amrit Bahadur Rai, the Deputy Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that President Paudel emphasized climate justice, climate finance, and compensation during the COP-29 summit.

According to Rai, President Paudel highlighted that climate-related disasters have caused significant loss of life and property in Nepal, and that the rising global temperatures pose a threat to the Himalayas.

He also raised the issue that when the Himalayas are endangered, entire communities are at risk, urging the international community to take notice.

Rai quoted President Paudel as emphasizing that developed nations must provide sufficient financial resources, technology, and other forms of assistance to developing countries to ensure climate justice.

During his visit to Azerbaijan, President Paudel met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who expressed that while underdeveloped countries are not responsible for climate change, they still suffer its consequences.

Guterres stressed that developed nations must take greater responsibility in addressing this issue.

Additionally, in a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, President Paudel was informed that Azerbaijan will serve as the COP-29 president for the next year and will remain active in climate action.

Aliyev also mentioned that Azerbaijani investors are ready to invest in Nepal’s agriculture and tourism sectors if concrete proposals are presented.

Rai noted that President Paudel’s assertion that the security of the Himalayas is critical to the security of the entire planet was particularly impactful on international platforms.

Rai also revealed that Nepal is planning to organize the Everest Dialogue, which aims to address the connection between the Himalayas and the oceans, and will invite global participants to join the conversation.