Climate finance, mountain agenda Nepal's top priorities at COP29

KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 5: As Azerbaijan prepares to host the annual world climate conference, COP29, Nepal has finalized its agenda for the event. President Ram Chandra Paudel is scheduled to attend the UN climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, from November 11 to 22.

Dr. Sindhu Prasad Dhungana, Chief of the Climate Change Division at the Ministry of Forest and Environment, shared that Nepal’s agenda for COP29 has been finalized. According to Dr. Dhungana, key topics will include loss and damage, mountain regions, and climate finance—priorities highlighted in Nepal’s national status paper. These topics were selected following input from various groups focused on carbon trading, climate finance, mitigation, adaptation, capacity building, gender equality, transparency, and good governance.

To spotlight the impacts of climate change on Nepal, a high-level session chaired by President Paudel is planned for November 13 during COP29. Minister for Forest and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, noted that Nepal has received permission from the UNFCCC to hold this dedicated session.

The session, titled "Addressing Loss and Damage in Mountain Regions," is expected to attract UN officials, representatives from mountainous countries, development partners, and others. Nepal will share specific challenges related to loss and damage, citing examples from Melamchi, Mustang, Kanchanpur, Thame, and Kathmandu Valley.

Dr. Dhungana also mentioned that the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) group will hold a roundtable discussion on November 5-6, and the G77+China will meet on November 9-10. Nepal plans to participate in both.

Bimal Regmi, a member of the Environment Conservation and Climate Change Management Council, emphasized that Nepal’s priorities should focus on pressing national interests, with the Himalayas being central.

As a signatory to the UNFCCC, Nepal has consistently attended COP conferences, developed national adaptation plans, shared its climate ambitions, and urged industrialized nations to address the urgent climate needs of LDCs and resource-constrained countries.

Ministry Secretary Dr. Dipak Kumar Kharal highlighted the importance of COP29 for Nepal, as "climate finance" and "carbon credit" will be among the major agenda items.