Kathmandu, Dec 26: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said that Nepal had a unique and effective presentation in the recently held COP28, the UN Climate Conference.
PM Dahal said so while addressing the nation on the occasion of completion of a year of the incumbent government from the Office of the Prime Minister and Ministers of Council at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
“The visit of United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Nepal at my invitation and Nepal’s presentation in the COP28 held in Dubai last month was unique and effective,” Dahal observed.
The COP28 was held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 30 November to 12 December.
Stating that separate sidelines meetings were organized for the first time at the COP28 conference, the PM pledged that Nepal will now onwards take the lead to raise the voice of the mountainous countries impacted by climate crisis.
It may be noted that Nepal also had its own pavilion for the first time in the global climate conference where experts, media persons and stakeholders could deliberate on the issues pertaining to climate change.
Furthermore, he reaffirmed his commitment to work towards protecting and promoting the achievements of the COP28 and viewed that time has come for Nepal to enhance advocacy on climate justice and equality more effectively.
“We will continue prodding the international community to fulfill its obligation of reducing carbon emission, the major cause of climate crisis, and to mobile climate finance for climate actions,” the Head of the Government assured.
He added that an inter-ministerial mechanism and an international negotiation team comprising experts would be formed, with a mandate to present Nepal’s priorities and garner opportunities in the multilateral negotiations including in the United Nations.
PM Dahal expressed his commitment for regular lobbying to increase Nepal’s access to carbon trade and the Green Climate Fund and as well as to further strengthen the institutional mechanism.
Relations with India and China strong and balanced
PM Dahal, during his address, asserted that strong and balanced relations have been maintained with India and China. According to him, there has been an increase in assistance and cooperation from the two neighbouring countries in the development endeavors of Nepal lately.
Dahal said, “I have clearly stated the priorities, concerns and matters of mutual cooperation in my foreign visits as the Prime Minister. In the World Food Conference held in Italy’s Rome, Nepal’s presentation of food security and addressing the problems facing the least developed countries has drawn world’s attention to the issue.”
Similarly, the matters presented by Nepal in the United Nations General Assembly and other sideline events have also equally attracted international communities’ attention, the PM said.
Mentioning that that the rapid rescue of the Nepali citizens in the wake of Hamas militant group’s attack in Israel was an exemplary deed in itself, he informed, “The way we rescued 31 Nepalis from Sudan, I am constantly holding diplomatic talks for the speedy rescue of the Nepalis trapped in the Russia-Ukraine war.”
On a different note, the PM shared that he had held discussions with all stakeholders regarding the problems of Melamchi Water Supply Project.
Empathizing with the Kathmandu Valley’s residents’ unfulfilled dream of availing water from the Project, he assured that the narrative that the Melamchi Water Supply Project’s water would not be supplied to Kathmandu will be proven wrong. “I am working with a compact plan of 28 days to supply 170 million liters water daily to Kathmandu Valley,” he vowed.
According to him, talks on the second phase of Melamchi Project were underway and the structural reform of the agencies related to water supply will be highly prioritized.
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