Nepal to hold int'l debate on climate change by August

Published On: April 18, 2019 06:30 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Nepal, the country of eight of the 14 world's heights peaks, has been expressing concerns over impacts of climate change on its mountains in different international forums including at the UN.

KATHMANDU, April 18: The government is preparing to host a dialogue on climate change issues by July as a part of the newly launched initiative called Sagarmatha Dialogue.

The Sagarmatha Dialogue, which is similar to Raisina dialogue of Indian government and Shangri-La Dialogue of Singapore, will formally kick-starts its dialogue series on various contemporary issues with debate on the issue of climate change.

Prime Minister's Press Advisor Kundan Aryal said that the forum will be utilized to put forth Nepal's voices on international arena. “Nepal will start dialogue on contemporary issues of our country. A dialogue on climate change impact will be held within this fiscal year on the forum,” Aryal told Republica.

Aryal said Nepal will share its problems and hear problems of other countries in the first dialogue and also discuss the impacts of climate change on the mountains and role of various stakeholders on the issue. The launch of this kind of international forum for debate is expected to help enhance Nepal's image at the international level, while providing Nepal an opportunity to voice its concerns to outer world.

The government has named the forum after Nepali name of Mount Everest—the world's highest peak. Nepal, the country of eight of the 14 world's heights peaks, has been expressing concerns over impacts of climate change on its mountains in different international forums including at the UN.

According to the government officials the debates will be held on time to time on the forum based on the issues and need of the country. Two giant neighbors of Nepal India and China have been holding Raisina Dialogue and Boao Forum to discuss with international leaders, business community and academia.

Prime Minister K P Oli had pushed an idea for launching Nepal's own forum for dialogue after his participation in the World Economic Forum in Switzerland in January. Oli's advisor Aryal said that Sagarmatha Dialogue will be the first forum of Nepal to carry out debate on Nepal's issue of international concern.