Minister Chaudhary calls for greater climate justice

Kathmandu, June 30

Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Gita Chaudhary has called for greater climate justice, increased climate finance and stronger international cooperation to support vulnerable countries affected by climate change.

Addressing the Seventh Climate and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Conference in Bangkok on Tuesday, she said Nepal contributes only a negligible share of global greenhouse gas emissions but continues to face severe impacts and risks from climate change.

“Nepal's status as a least developed, landlocked and high-mountain country makes it particularly vulnerable, despite its contribution to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection that helps regulate the global climate,” the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok quoted Minister Chaudhary as saying in a statement.

The conference, jointly organised by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), was held in Bangkok from June 29 to 30.

The conference discussed synergies between the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, and integrated action for climate, environment and sustainable development.

Minister Chaudhary stressed the need to place mountain issues at the centre of the global climate agenda, saying the Himalayas, often described as Asia's water reservoir, and their glaciers are vital to the region.

She said coordinated implementation of climate commitments and the SDGs is essential for Nepal to maximise the use of its limited resources. Investments in climate action, she added, should also accelerate progress towards the SDGs and deliver wider development benefits.

Likewise, Minister Chaudhary said that Nepal's third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP) have been fully aligned with the SDGs and prepared with the participation of government agencies, non-governmental organisations and the private sector.

According to the Embassy, she appealed to the international community to support their implementation.

Minister Chaudhary also urged developed countries to ensure adequate, predictable, grant-based and easily accessible climate finance and to provide assistance to affected communities through the Loss and Damage Fund.

She further called for improved market access for organic products from least developed, landlocked and mountainous countries, contributing to environmental and biodiversity conservation.

Environment ministers and representatives from Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Fiji and Pakistan, among other countries, participated in the conference.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 1 July 2026.