Kathmandu, Oct. 29 -- Nepal on Thursday said it will raise issues related to climate change and its impact on the Himalayan ecosystem at the upcoming COP31 climate conference.
Addressing the National Climate Summit-2026 in Kathmandu, Nepal's Foreign Minister Shirish Khanal said the country will put forward four major priorities at COP31, with issues like climate-induced loss and damage to the Himalayan region, climate finance, and climate justice at the forefront of its agenda.
He said the impact of climate change on the Himalayas has emerged as a global challenge and is no longer an issue concerning Nepal alone.
The ecological stability of the Himalayas is closely linked to water, food security, energy and the economy, making the conservation of the mountain ecosystem both a national interest and a shared international responsibility, Khanal said.
He also said major floods and landslides struck three river corridors in Nepal within six weeks following the devastating floods in the Bhote Koshi corridor on August 26, causing serious damage to lives, property, infrastructure, livelihoods and the economy. The flash floods killed around 1,400 people, while more than 5,000 remain missing.
The preliminary assessment for reconstruction and rehabilitation following the August disaster alone has put the requirement at around USD 4.7 billion, equivalent to about 10 per cent of Nepal's Gross Domestic Product, he said.
He said the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius holds particular significance for Himalayan countries.
"Nepal will continue the initiatives advanced through the 'International Expert Dialogue on Mountains, People, and Climate Change' organised in 2024 and the Sagarmatha Dialogue in 2025," Khanal said.
This would include regular high-level dialogues, a separate Himalayan action plan and advocacy for incorporating the risks facing the Himalayan region into the global climate framework, he added.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.