COP29 kicks off today: Nepal presenting glaring examples of climate change induced risks

KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 11: A flash flood with a mudslide struck Thame village in Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu district on August 16. The villagers never anticipated such a sudden disaster, and in an instant, the flood turned Thame into a deserted wasteland.

The experience remains vivid for Tasi Lhamu Sherpa, Chairperson of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality. "We are vulnerable to climate-induced risks," he said, adding, "People here still fear the possibility of avalanches." The disaster, triggered by relentless rainfall from September 26 to 28 across many areas, including the Kathmandu Valley, continues to haunt the community. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 250 people lost their lives over those three days. An additional 18 people went missing, 178 were injured, and approximately 6,000 homes were damaged.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development reported that heavy rains during harvest time would significantly lower this year’s paddy yield. Three years ago, unseasonal floods destroyed paddy worth over Rs 8 billion. Similarly, the Melamchi Drinking Water Development Committee highlighted severe damage caused by flooding in the Melamchi and Indrawati Rivers in Sindhupalchowk shortly after monsoon onset three years ago. Consequently, preparations are underway to relocate the Melamchi project’s 'Herdbox' to a safer location. After a nearly three-decade-long wait, Kathmandu residents' hopes of accessing Melamchi drinking water were shattered by this disaster. The project now only operates during winter, halting in the rainy season.

This year, monsoon-related disasters have claimed 495 lives, with 66 people missing and 522 injured, according to NDRRMA data. The risks tied to climate change are growing more apparent. Today, the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) begins in Baku, Azerbaijan, running until November 22. Nepal's Head of State, Ramchandra Paudel, departed on Sunday to lead the Nepali delegation, aiming to advocate for mountain and environmental protection at the summit.

President Paudel’s Secretariat stated that he would emphasize the threats posed by climate change before leaders and officials from over 192 countries. Chief of the Climate Change Management Division under the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Dr. Sindhu Prasad Dhungana, noted that examples like the Thame glacial outburst would highlight Nepal’s need for climate-related financial support. “We will advocate for access to funds for loss and damage caused by climate change,” he said, adding that international finance, technology transfer, and capacity development are key agendas.

Kamal Raj Joshi, Director General of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, warned that 47 major glacial lakes in Nepal are at risk of bursting, threatening billions in economic and human losses. He stressed the need to address these imminent threats at COP29. “Of these vulnerable glacial lakes, 25 are in China, 21 in Nepal, and one in India,” Joshi said, urging increased investment to mitigate these risks.

Climate expert Manjeet Dhakal emphasized that presenting concrete examples of climate vulnerability would strengthen Nepal’s position at COP29. A new study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasts a 17 percent reduction in GDP for developing Asia and the Pacific region by 2070 due to climate change.

Research from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) revealed that glacier melting in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region has increased by 65 percent from 2011 to 2020, three times the global average.

Developing nations like Nepal are pushing for greater global action to mitigate the impacts of climate change on mountainous regions. At COP29, Nepali delegates will focus on six major agendas: climate finance, climate-induced loss and damage, carbon trading, emission measurement, mountain agenda, and technology and capacity building.

Dr. Buddhi Poudel, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Environment, said Nepal’s national status paper outlines key issues such as climate adaptation, agriculture, energy transition, and water resource management. Efforts are also ongoing to ensure the effective implementation of the Climate Loss and Damage Fund, established at COP28 in Dubai last year.