KATHMANDU, Nov 13: The participation of 31 members of the Nepali delegation in the ongoing UN Climate Conference (COP-29) held in Baku, Azerbaijan has drawn the attention of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) after it was revealed that over two and a half dozen individuals visited the summit in a quota for three people.
The CIAA has sent a letter to the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) on Monday, demanding the reasons for their nomination along with the details of cost needed to send them abroad.
Badri Prasad Dhungana, the spokesperson and joint secretary at the Ministry said, “The CIAA has asked for details.” The 29th Conference of Parties (COP-29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which began on Monday, will continue until November 22.
“The acting secretary has informed that the response will be given only after the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration Bhupal Baral returns. The reply will be given accordingly,” Dhungana said.
In addition to ministry staff, Forest and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi’s personal secretary, Lek Bikram Shahi, and his son, Rajendra Shahi, are also attending the conference.
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A few days ago, Republica published a news article highlighting that there was no need for any other staff member, except the minister, secretary, and the concerned division chief in the conference. Following the publication of the news, the CIAA wrote a letter to the ministry on Monday. The employees of the ministry, taking advantage of the summit, sought help from various international organizations and development partners to form a jumbo team.
The employees participating in the conference, which is being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to November 22, have already arrived there. According to the Ministry, along with Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi, State Minister Rupa BK, 31 employees from the Ministry have reached Baku. “Apart from the minister, secretary, and division chief, none of the other employees have any relevant tasks,” said an employee of the ministry.
The employee said that it is a wrong practice to seek support from development partners to attend conferences abroad. “Asking for support means promising to do them favors in return,” the employee said.
According to the ministry, a total of 31 employees are in the delegation including one secretary, seven joint secretaries, 11 deputy secretaries and 12 section officers. The ministry has allocated Rs 2.5 million for the visit. However, the budget only covers expenses of four individuals.
The participants from the ministry include Sindhu Dhungana, the chief of the Climate Change Management Division and the focal person for the UNFCCC. Additionally, Joint Secretary Buddhi Sagar Paudel is a member of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) group. Maheshwar Dhakal is involved in the Loss and Damage (L&D) sector and Navaraj Pudasaini, chief of the REDD Implementation Center is engaged in carbon trading.
Naresh Sharma, the undersecretary of the Climate Change Management Division, is a member of the Adaptation Fund Board.
“Apart from the members, focal persons, and experts in UNFCCC bodies, no one else has any role. Apart from the minister who will give a speech, and the secretary and division chief, no one else has any responsibility or role," Sharma said.
According to him, they traveled in the name of a climate conference with the help of various donors. He stated, “It is a shameful situation. The MoFE will have to search for employees to do the day-to-day work.”
According to the information given by the MoFE sources, other members of the Nepali delegation attending the COP-29 on behalf of the MoFE includes Secretary Deepak Kharal, Director General of the Department of Plant Resources Sanjeev Rai, Joint Secretary of the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation Dhananjay Lamichhane, Joint Secretary for Administration Bhupal Baral, Undersecretary for Law Mahendra Shahi, Undersecretary for Accounts Dipak Adhikari, Undersecretary for Administration Shovakar Regmi, Section Officer for Administration Ganga Pandey, Khem Kafle, Narayan Rayamajhi, Under Secretary of the Climate Change Management Division Naresh Sharma, Raju Sapkota, Shiva Khanal, Suman Subedi, Hari Sharma, Prakash Thapa, Deepa Oli, Technical Officers Himal Shiwakoti, Sheela Gyawali, Prakash Lamichhane, Narayan Pokharel, Amrit Sharma, Legal Officer Janak Raj Shahi, Minister Shahi’s Personal Secretary Lek Bikram Shahi, and the Minister’s son Rajendra Shahi.
In addition to them, some other employees, journalists, and experts are also representing the Nepali delegation in the conference. All of them are supported by development partner organizations. They are receiving support from the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and other development partner agencies.
