Nepal’s climate change challenges discussed in Beijing

KATHMANDU: The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, in collaboration with the Oxfam office in China, hosted an event entitled ‘Roundtable and Photo Exhibition on Climate Change Challenges in Nepal’ in Beijing on Friday.

The event was organized with the aim of seeking the support of the Chinese government for climate finance in Nepal, the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing said in a press release.

Zhou Guomei, Director General of the Ministry of Environment and Ecology, Government of China, graced the event as the Chief Guest.

In his welcome speech, Nepal’s ambassador to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, underscored the vulnerability of Nepal in terms of climate challenges and called upon the international community to join hands in forging a sustainable and resilient future for Nepal.

On the occasion, Director General Guomei informed about the priorities of the Chinese government for green development and low-carbon emissions. She said that the Chinese government has been supporting developing countries such as Nepal through South-South Cooperation for capacity development and knowledge sharing.

Highlighting the vulnerability of Nepal to climate change, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Beijing, Siddhartha Chatterjee, stressed the need for collective action to combat the global challenge. Likewise, Smriti Aryal, a representative of UN Women, shed light on the intersection of gender and climate issues, highlighting the need for inclusive solutions.

The event featured presentations by the Chief Divisional Engineer of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Hari Prasad Sharma, Climate expert from Oxfam Nepal, Nibha Shrestha, and Professor Wang Binbin of the Institute of the Tibetan Plateau Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The presentations highlighted Nepal’s vulnerability to climate change and sought cooperation for climate finance to help mitigate and adapt to measures in Nepal, according to the statement.

A photo exhibition depicting the impact of climate change was also organized on the sidelines of the roundtable.

The event saw the participation of government officials, United Nations officials and UN Women officials, as well as representatives from non-governmental organizations, academicians, students, and Oxfam representatives from Nepal and China.