Remarks by Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Shisir Khanal at the Opening Plenary of CoP-31 in Antalya, Turkiye
Mr. President, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Merhaba, Good Evening, and Namaste!
I congratulate the Presidency on your election and express Nepal’s sincere gratitude to the Government and the people of the Republic of Türkiye for generous hospitality in Antalya, where the mountains meet the sea.
We thank Australia and the UNFCCC Secretariat for steering our path here.
Nepal associates itself with the statements of the Group of 77 and China, the LDCs, LLDCs, and the Mountain Group.
I come here from a nation still in grief. On 26 August, mountain collapse unleashed what we have called a Himalayan Tsunami.
More than 1400 lives were lost. Over 5000 people remain missing. Critical infrastructures were swept away in minutes. Rebuilding will cost about one-tenth of our entire economy.
Science confirms climate change had a role.
From Sagarmatha to the Sea, changing climate is transforming our lives, our landscapes, and our future.
Between August and October alone, Nepal experienced three major disasters.
Yet Nepal acts with conviction. About half of our land is community conserved forest, our energy runs on hydropower and over 70% of new consumer vehicles bought are EVs.
Nepal contributes a negligible percentage to global emissions. Yet, the Himalaya that sustains lives and livelihood, of the one-third of humanity is melting at breakneck speed.
We come here seeking climate justice.
Nepal, along with Bhutan & Kyrgyzstan, has formally asked for Mountain & climate change as Agenda item.
Nepal thanks the Presidencies and all Parties for their constructive engagement. While we remain baffled at why the world community finds it difficult to consider an issue that impacts about 27% of world geography and 15% of the world’s population as a critical and urgent issue, we recognise the progress made.
But it falls short of our expectations.
We ask the presidencies to ensure that cover decision and Presidency consultations on “matters relating to mountains and climate change” reflect:
- Urgency of 1.5 C for mountains
- A dedicated work programme on mountains and climate change
- Integration of financial and adaptation framework ensuring mountain specific indicators to GGA and NCQG.
After the disaster we received an outpouring of sympathy. This is the time to put sympathy into the system. Promises into Action.
Nepal remains steadfast to work together with all partners in this room. We ask all here today to stand in strong solidarity with us & the Mountain community.
Thank you.
