Kathmandu, Nov 10: Nepal has called for increased international funding to help mountain communities adapt to the growing threats posed by climate change, with Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal urging the global community to make adaptation finance more accessible and predictable.
Speaking at a high-level event on mountain resilience at the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, Khanal said mountain regions needed greater financial support to cope with climate related risks.
The event, titled ‘Strengthening Mountain Resilience through Adaptation Finance’, was jointly organised by Nepal, Bhutan and Kyrgyzstan in partnership with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Joy Environment Network.
Khanal drew attention to the devastation caused by the recent ‘Himalayan tsunami’ in Nepal, which resulted in significant economic, physical and human losses. He said the increasing frequency and severity of climate related disasters demanded stronger regional and international cooperation to protect vulnerable mountain ecosystems and communities.
Nearly one third of the global population depends directly on mountain ecosystems, Khanal said, arguing that mountain resilience should feature more prominently in international climate negotiations under the United Nations framework.
He also urged countries to scale up climate adaptation funding and ensure that financial resources are available in a predictable and accessible manner.
Calling for stronger international commitment to climate action, Khanal said efforts must continue to keep the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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