Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal returned home on Saturday after leading Nepal’s delegation to the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Türkiye.
Khanal had left for Türkiye last week to attend the conference. He returned after completing his participation, while Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Gita Chaudhary will lead the Nepali delegation during the remaining meetings and negotiations.
Issuing a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nepal highlighted issues including mountains and climate change, keeping global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius, climate justice, conservation of mountain ecosystems, financial support for adaptation and loss and damage, and strengthening multi-hazard early warning systems during the conference.
Speaking to journalists at Tribhuvan International Airport after his arrival, Khanal said he had made active efforts at high-level meetings to bring the concerns of Nepal and other mountain countries into the COP process. He expressed optimism that the conference would address their agenda in some form.
Khanal also called for the inclusion of mountain-specific indicators in the Global Goal on Adaptation and the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance.
During the conference, Nepal also organized a high-level event on adaptation finance for mountain resilience in collaboration with Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and Zoï Environment Network.
Khanal also took part in several high-level meetings and events, including the Antalya Leaders’ Summit and discussions on climate adaptation, early warning systems and regional cooperation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya.
