Kathmandu. Nepal has renewed its global call for climate justice at the Thirtieth Conference of Parties (COP30) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, currently underway in Belém, Brazil.
Addressing the Ministerial segment on Monday, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr. Madan Prasad Pariyar stressed that Nepal remains firmly committed to advancing ambitious climate action despite being one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations.
Speaking as the head of the Nepali delegation, Minister Pariyar highlighted the multiple climate threats Nepal faces, including rapidly melting glaciers, prolonged drought, erratic rainfall, and increasing impacts on agriculture. He briefed participants on Nepal’s NDC3.0, which aims to guide the country toward achieving zero emissions by 2045. He noted that Nepal’s forest cover has now expanded to more than 46 percent, underscoring the country’s deep ecological connection.
Calling on developed countries to deliver on long-standing commitments related to climate finance, he emphasized that all countries must put forward ambitious NDCs, fulfill their treaty obligations, and respect the recent ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate justice. He also urged that a dedicated mountain agenda be firmly integrated into future UNFCCC processes, referencing the Sagarmatha Sambaad held in Kathmandu earlier this year.
Before delivering his statement, Minister Pariyar held discussions—both in person and online—with various stakeholders on Nepal’s engagement in key negotiation areas such as climate finance, adaptation, Loss and Damage, transparency measures, Global Stocktake, gender inclusion, and mountain-focused issues.
Throughout the conference, the Minister participated in several high-level side events and bilateral meetings. On Monday morning, he joined an event hosted by the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, where he highlighted Nepal’s efforts to promote clean-energy solutions, including rising use of electric vehicles and electric cooking systems.
He also took part in the Ministerial Meeting of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), during which the chairmanship of the LDC Group on climate change was formally handed over. Nepal expressed appreciation for Malawi’s leadership as outgoing chair and pledged support to Timor-Leste as the new chair.
Later in the day, the Minister attended a meeting of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), reaffirming Nepal’s commitment to safeguarding biodiversity and strengthening global cooperation to protect big cat species.
Among key bilateral engagements, Minister Pariyar met with Ibrahim Cheikh Diong, Executive Director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, to explore avenues through which Nepal could access financing for national projects. He is scheduled to meet Indian Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday.
Nepal will also host a side event titled “Sagarmatha to Belém: Advancing Climate Action”, aimed at reviewing progress since the Sagarmatha Call for Action and outlining strategies to promote mountain issues within the UN climate framework. Minister Pariyar is additionally slated to participate in the Ministerial dialogue “Melting Point and the 1.5°C Goal”, focusing on global risks from cryosphere loss.
The Nepali delegation, led by Minister Pariyar, arrived in Belém on 15 November and was welcomed by Nepal’s Ambassador to Brazil, Nirmal Raj Kafle. The Minister is expected to return to Nepal on 19 November.