04 December, Kathmandu: The 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28) kicked off in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on November 30. The conference to be concluded on December 12 shed light on mountain issues at the beginning of the conference.
Citing the reference to Nepal, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the inaugural session of the conference said the trend of melting glaciers is on the rise due to an increase in the global temperature.
The Secretary-General further said the effects of climate change have remained visible in mountains and are affecting the lives of the people.
On the eve of the conference, he visited Nepal and also observed the base camps of Sagarmatha and Annapurna. Likewise, PM Dahal attaching high importance to the mountain issues hosted a high-level programme to raise the agendas on behalf of Nepal.
The Secretary-General not only addressed the program but also drew the attention of the advanced countries to their obligation to address the adverse effects of climate change.
Similarly, PM Dahal called for collective action to save the mountain and clarified that Nepal has been bearing the direct, unequal and harmful impacts of climate change despite almost zero contributions to global carbon emission.
According to the Paris Agreement, the global community had agreed to keep Earth’s temperature within 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, it is estimated that the mountain area temperature will rise beyond 1.8 degrees Celsius before 2050. Studies have shown that almost two third portion of the iceberg of the mountains will be melted.
On the occasion, Minister for Forest and Environment Dr Birendra Prasad Mahato said they were very excited that Nepal’s issues receiving priority.
He said Nepal’s issues on climate change were established in the conference.
Nepal has done its preparation almost six months before the COP-28.
