Kathmandu, Oct. 6
Speaking at a high-level ‘Pre-COP Leaders’
Event’ held in Funafuti in Tuvalu on Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Shisir
Khanal highlighted the common challenges and priorities faced by mountainous
and small island developing states as a result of climate change.
He led the Nepali delegation to the event
organised ahead of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Participating in various formal sessions of
the event, he highlighted the need to effectively address the shared concerns
of countries affected by the adverse impacts of climate change on international
platforms, informed FM Khanal's Secretariat in a statement on Tuesday.
During a meeting with Tuvalu Prime Minister
Feleti Teo, FM Khanal noted the similarities between the risks and challenges
faced by the Himalayan region and small island states in the Pacific due to
climate change, and stressed the need to further strengthen cooperation between
the two sides on climate-related issues.
Likewise, he met Tongan Prime Minister Lord
Fakafanua during a field visit to Tuvalu’s Coastal Adaptation Project in
Funafuti.
According to the statement, the two leaders
discussed the interrelationship between the risks faced by high-mountain
ecosystems and those confronting low-lying coastal island states as a result of
climate change. They stressed the need for mountainous and small island states
to strengthen their common voice on international platforms to ensure the
effective implementation of climate finance, climate adaptation and loss and
damage funds.
FM Khanal also held a meeting with
Mauritius President Dharam Gokhool and first lady Brinda Gokhool. Recalling his
first overseas visit to Mauritius as Foreign Minister, Khanal spoke of the
various aspects of the longstanding friendly and cordial relations between
Nepal and Mauritius.
The meeting also discussed further
strengthening cooperation between Nepal and Mauritius on climate change and
climate action at international forums.
The Nepali delegation went for a field
visit to make first-hand observation of the coastal engineering and climate
adaptation measures adopted by Tuvalu to mitigate the impacts of rising sea
levels and increasingly powerful waves.
On the occasion, Minister Khanal drew
attention to the interrelationship between the rapid melting and degradation of
glaciers in the Himalayan region and rising sea levels.
He said the climate futures of mountainous
and small island states were interconnected, and stressed the need for the
international community to fulfil its climate finance commitments in a timely,
adequate and equitable manner to help countries address the adverse impacts of
climate change.
Nepal has been highlighting the adverse
impacts of climate change in the Himalayan region, as well as challenges such
as rising sea levels and coastal erosion faced by small island states in the
Pacific, as shared climate concerns.
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