KATHMANDU, May 22: An international expert dialogue on mountains, people and climate is set to commence today in Kathmandu, with participation from ministers of Bhutan and Bangladesh and the Chairman of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Bangladesh's Environment, Forest and Climate Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury and Bhutan's Agriculture and Livestock Minister Younten Phuntso have arrived in Nepal to join the conference. Harry Vreuls, the president of SBSTA, is also attending.

On the eve of the conference, the two ministers and SBSTA President Vreuls met with Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. A total of 200 delegates from 25 countries, including Nepal, will participate in this dialogue, which will take place on May 22 and May 23 at Chandragiri in Kathmandu. The event is titled 'International Dialogue on Mountain, People, and Climate.'

The conference aims to address the impact of climate change on mountain regions, formulate a unified stance among mountain countries on related issues, and enhance the effectiveness of both national and international initiatives.

Nepal has consistently highlighted the adverse effects of climate change on the mountainous ecological systems, the lives of people, and biodiversity in international forums.

The United Nations Climate Conference (COP-28), held in Dubai last year, marked the first significant initiative to tackle the impact of climate change on mountain areas. The Dubai conference directed the 60th meeting of the SBSTA to discuss mountain and climate change issues at an expert level.

In line with this directive, the mountain dialogue is being held in Nepal ahead of the SBSTA meeting scheduled for early June in Bonn, Germany. The conclusions from the Nepal dialogue will be presented to SBSTA President Vreuls. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal will inaugurate the dialogue on Wednesday, with discussions focusing on climate science and mountain evidence, mountain solutions and common themes, and mountain resources and opportunities.

 
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