KATHMANDU, June 21: The Office of President has claimed that President Ram Chandra Paudel's visit to Switzerland and Germany helped establish the agenda in the international world that the world should prioritize least developed mountainous countries like Nepal in order to reduce the effects of climate change.

President Paudel's thoughts, expressed as the keynote speaker at the opening session of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the Global Coalition for Social Justice, along with his discussions with scientists in Germany and subsequent bilateral talks with German President Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier on mitigating the impacts of climate change on Nepal, have established the agenda on the international stage, according to President Paudel's Press Advisor Kiran Pokharel.

According to him, during President Paudel's visits to various climate research centers in Germany, he engaged in discussions with scientists, praising their research to date and suggesting that future research should focus on measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

President Paudel urged the global community to provide recommendations on what developed countries, which are major carbon emitters, should do to mitigate the impacts of climate change and what measures the least developed countries should take.

"Your research on climate change so far is commendable. However, I believe it is now crucial to focus research on how to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Additionally, you should provide the global community with recommendations on what developed countries, which are major carbon emitters, should do to reduce the impacts of climate change, and what measures the least developed countries should take," Press Advisor Pokharel quoted President Paudel as saying.

In the subsequent bilateral talks, German President Steinmeier praised President Paudel's thoughts and suggestions expressed during discussions with scientists. He conveyed their sympathy towards mountainous countries like Nepal and expressed their commitment to providing all possible assistance to Nepal in the future.

President Paudel, after expressing Nepal's priorities to German President Steinmeier, including investment in agriculture, sustainable water resource management, and tourism development, was accompanied by members of the delegation, according to Pokharel. President Steinmeier also expressed confidence in Germany's unwavering support for Nepal.

President Paudel appealed to Germany to facilitate the release and repatriation of six Nepali citizens detained in military custody in Ukraine. Germany, as a member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has been providing military assistance to Ukraine amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

Similarly, President Poudel, speaking as the keynote speaker at the opening session of the Global Alliance for Social Justice organized at the high-level session of the 112th International Labor Conference in Geneva, Switzerland last Thursday, said that 'when talking about social justice, we cannot forget the climate justice that should be established at the global level' and the negative effects of climate change. Counselor Pokharel also claims that he succeeded in attracting the attention of the world community by connecting with social justice.

In his address, President Paudel stated, "The global community cannot afford to turn away from this responsibility, especially from major historical and current emitters. As we advocate for social justice, we must ensure the establishment of climate justice on a global scale. Ignoring climate justice in the context of negative climate change impacts puts countries at climate risk. Sufficient funds and necessary technologies must be made available promptly to ensure climate justice."

President Paudel mentioned, "Despite Nepal's negligible contribution to carbon emissions, we are bearing the brunt of all adverse impacts of climate change without any fault of our own. However, in recent years, our Himalayas, including the world's highest peak Sagarmatha, have been losing their snow cover, transforming into black mountains, and our glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate."

He further said, "Climate change has seriously affected access to clean water, agriculture, biodiversity, and public health. It has pushed millions of our people into extreme poverty and exacerbated inequality. The displacement of families, communities, and loss of livelihoods due to climate change-induced disasters have compounded the complexity of the issue."

Pokharel also expressed pride in the recognition by the global community present at the ILO program towards President Paudel's perspectives and proposals.

 
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