PM Oli and UNSG Guterres agree on the need to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions

NEWYORK (USA), SEPTEMBER 22 : In a meeting held today at the UN headquarters ahead of the Summit of the Future and the 79th UN General Assembly, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need for drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Guterres expressed his commitment to lobbying the international community for compensating Nepal for the climate impacts it is experiencing, particularly the melting of its mountains. He also stressed the importance of providing sufficient climate finance to mountainous countries like Nepal while working towards a significant reduction in global emissions.

Reflecting on his visit to Nepal last year, Guterres called for reforms in the global order to reduce and prevent the carbon emissions that disproportionately affect developing nations, including least developed countries like Nepal, according to Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Lok Bahadur Thapa. Guterres assured that the UN would work to facilitate simplified access to advanced financial assistance for developing countries and praised Nepali security personnel for their performance in UN peacekeeping missions.

Prime Minister Oli expressed gratitude for the Secretary-General’s visit to Nepal and urged him to take the lead in delivering climate justice for the country. He also called for leadership positions for Nepal within the UN peacekeeping forces, given its notable contributions to international peace and security. Oli thanked the UN and the international community for their concern regarding the recent avalanche in the Khumbu region and announced that Nepal would soon host the Sagarmatha Dialogue, focusing on the Himalayan ecosystem, inviting Guterres to participate.

Also attending the meeting were Foreign Minister Dr. Arju Rana Deuba, the Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, and Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Amrit Bahadur Rai. Earlier, UN High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, Under Secretary-General Rabab Fatima, met with Prime Minister Oli at the Nepali Mission. The discussions focused on enhancing Nepal-UN cooperation and promoting the interests of Least Developed Countries in multilateral forums.