Nepal to advocate for “Group of Mountain Partnership”

The Government of Nepal is hosting a two days international experts dialogue on Mountains, People and Climate on 22 and 23 May 2024 in Chandragiri Hill, Kathmandu with an objective to contribute to the Expert dialogue on mountains and climate change which is being hosted by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) at the 60th Session of SBSTA on 5th June 2024.

The dialogue in Kathmandu is being hosted following the Right Honourable Prime Minster Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ spearheading the side event dialogue “Call of the Mountain: Who Saves us from the Climate Crisis?“, with like minded mountain countries and members in 28th Conference of Parties in Dubai. Rt. Hon’ Prime Minister of Nepal announced to raise voices on climate change while promoting the mountain agenda in the UNFCCC negotiation process. Nepal has been initiating constant advocacy in the UN gatherings on the sensitivity of mountain conservation and climate change.
Rt. Honourable Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, the Prime Minister of Nepal, will formally open the dialogue and the Chair of SBSTA from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the ministers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, the special ambassador of Kyrgyz Republic, representative from mountains partnership, and high-level stafts from development partners, CSO’s and youth will be attending the event. Over 200 participants from more than 25 countries who have been extensively working on climate change, and mountain and marine issues from both the mountain and lowlands will attend the two-day program.

Hon. Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, Minister of Forests and Environment stated, are ready to engage with different parties to bring the mountain issues into the forefront of the global climate negotiation discussions”. He further added, “International Expert Dialogue on Mountains, People and Climate is a follow up of a high-level side event entitled “Call of the Mountain: Who Saves us from the Climate nate Crisis?” organized at COP 28 under the leadership of the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Nepal.

Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment said it is a great opportunity for the Government of Nepal to have a discussion with global participants and dignitaries on the mountain and beyond issues ahead of the UN-organized expert dialogue on mountain and climate change agenda in Bonn, Germany. He further added, the presence of the SBSTA chair in the dialogue shows the commitment of mountain issues at the global climate
negotiations.

Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment said “Global gathering in Nepal will be an opportunity for Nepal to showcase its leadership and spearhead the mountain dialogue at the global climate negotiation to ensure the agenda to reflect in UNFCCC
process”.

The International expert dialogue will have 10 sessions under three themes 1. Climate Science and Mountain Evidence 2. Mountain Solutions: Common Grounds and Common Understanding 3. Mountain Prospective: Resources and Opportunities. Each session will have a keynote speaker, presentation and the panel discussion and over 50 plus global speakers will be making the deliberation.

The summary of the chair will be developed from this dialogue and it will be handed over to Harry Vreuls, Chair of the SBSTA, who will be present in Nepal. The expert dialogue is being led by the Climate Change Management Division, Ministry of Forests and Environment supported by several partners working on climate change issues.

For Further Details: mountain.mofe.gov.np
Mr. Raju Sapkota, Under Secretary, MoFE: 9851127906
Mr. Naraya Prasad Pokhrel, Officer, MOFE: 9857036263