PM Dahal moderates high-level roundtable meeting to addresses urgent climate crisis concerns for mountainous nations

DUBAI, Dec 2: Nepal hosted a high-level roundtable meeting on the sidelines of the Conference of the Parties (COP) 28 in Dubai on Saturday, with a focus on the theme 'The Message of the Mountains: Who Will Protect Us from the Climate Crisis?'

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal moderated the program, with participants including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Andorra’s Prime Minister Xavier Espot Zamora, and Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev.

PM Dahal emphasized the need for mountainous nations to unite their voices, advocating for the inclusion of the mountain agenda in the official processes of the COP.

Prime Minister Dahal expressed gratitude to special dignitaries for their unwavering concern for the well-being of mountainous communities and ecological preservation. "We have gathered here amid numerous challenges and commitments to limit climate change to 1.5 degrees Celsius," he stated.

Similarly, Prime Minister Dahal conveyed information from the latest report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), noting that anthropogenic activities have caused significant 'climate chaos.' The report highlights a fifteen fold higher death rate in areas with a low risk of cyclones, floods, and droughts compared to areas with high-risk levels.

Emphasizing the importance of mountains for identity, dignity, ecological systems, environmental integrity, and humanity, Prime Minister Dahal mentioned Nepal's proactive stance in addressing the climate crisis by organizing a conference on Mount Everest, the world's highest peak.

Prime Minister Dahal underscored the current and disproportionate impacts of climate change on people's race, caste, social welfare, and the country's economic conditions. He called on global leaders to unite in protecting mountains, the Himalayan ecosystem, and the sustainable future of its people.

"The purpose of the roundtable conference organized by Nepal is to safeguard and promote mountains, Himalayan civilization, ecological systems, and the inhabitants of the Himalayas. It aims to foster cooperation and solidarity in confronting the common challenges posed by climate change in the Himalayas," Prime Minister Dahal stated.

During the event, Secretary-General Guterres expressed deep concern over the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers. He underscored the importance of financial certainty for effective climate action, calling for the doubling of the adaptation fund. Additionally, he urged affluent nations to fulfill their commitment to provide US$100 billion annually to the developing countries and advocated for the reform of international financial institutions to enhance access to climate finance.

Andorra's Prime Minister, Xavier Espot Zamora, highlighted the risks to the mountain ecosystem due to rising temperatures, emphasizing the adverse effects on small countries like Andorra.

Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister, Jeenbek Kulubaev, stressed the need for financial facilities for mountainous nations. Representatives from UNDP, the World Agriculture Organization, ICIMOD, the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative, and others also addressed the conference.