Minister for Forests and Environment Shakti Bahadur Basent has said Nepal is preparing to raise the issues about impact of climate change with top priority in the COP 24, the United Nations 24th climate change conference.
During his meeting Wednesday with a delegation from the Department for International Development (DFID) UK, the Minister sought the seriousness on the part of countries contributing most to the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions to reduce its impact and for the welfare of Nepal-like countries which have the least or no role in carbon emissions, but bear the brunt of its effect. The meeting was held at the Ministry of Forests.
The Minister apprised the delegation that a layer of snow in the Himalayas of Nepal was gradually becoming thinner and risks of natural disasters like landslides and soil erosion had significantly increased in the hills and the tarai had turned a vulnerable zone to the water-induced disasters due to climate change impact.
He went on to say that though the government of Nepal had implemented several programs aimed to minimize the impact of climate change, only internal efforts were not sufficient to face challenges caused by the global environmental phenomenon, said his press coordinator Dayanidhi Bhatta.
During the COP 24, Nepal would raise the issues concerning those countries including Nepal which had the least role in the carbon emission, but suffered the most in terms of its impact. A high-level delegation under the leadership of President Bidya Devi Bhandari is participating in the event and the delegation will also comprise minister Basnet.
On the occasion, the DFID delegation pledged support to Nepal's agenda in the UN event.
Though Nepal is among the countries with the least contribution to the Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, it is the most vulnerable to its impact. Nepal's GHG emission is around 0.027 per cent of the global emission. The COP 24 is taking place at Katowice of Poland from December 2-14. The Ministry of Forest and Environment said it has geared up for participating in the conference. Nepal is a member party to the UN general conventions.
