Kathmandu, October 25
President Ram Chandra Paudel will represent Nepal at the 29th UN Conference of the Parties (COP-29) on climate change, scheduled to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, according to the Minister for Forests and Environment, Aina Bahadur Shahi Thakuri. The high-level delegation underscores Nepal’s commitment to addressing climate change issues on an international platform.
In a press briefing at the ministry, Minister Thakuri highlighted the government’s extensive preparations for COP-29, including infrastructure, national committees, and policy guidelines. Nepal’s agenda will emphasize biodiversity conservation in mountain regions, disaster management, and climate financing, with the ministry designated as the focal agency for the Climate Adaptation Fund.
The ministry has also introduced policies aimed at sustainable resource management. Secretary Dr Dipak Kumar Kharal noted the recent approval of a plan to allocate 80 per cent of carbon trade dividends to communities, alongside a policy to involve the private sector in carbon trading. Additional achievements include the development of a National Forest Strategic Plan, increased forest coverage, and the collection of Rs 65.9 million in the Forest Development Fund.
Minister Thakuri reported the ministry’s progress over the past 100 days, including eight key policy and legal reforms to advance Nepal’s forest, biodiversity, and environmental sectors.
