Himal Press 
Photo: RSS
BAKU: President Ram Chandra Paudel has urged all developed nations to fulfill their commitments regarding addressing climate change impacts.
“Nepal is fully committed to the Paris Agreement on climate change. As Nepal aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2045, five years ahead of the global target, we urge all developed countries to fulfill their commitments to address climate change impacts,” President Paudel said in a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, President Ilham Aliyev, according to his Press Advisor Kiran Pokharel.
President Paudel said the country faces severe impacts of climate change like melting Himalayan glaciers, declining freshwater sources for downstream populations and significant annual losses due to climate-induced natural disasters despite Nepal’s minimal carbon emissions. He recalled that this year too, Nepal suffered extensive nationwide losses due to unseasonal heavy rainfall. “The government must spend a large portion of its budget every year on climate-affected populations,” President Paudel stated.
President Paudel said that Nepal and Azerbaijan share not only geographical similarities due to their mountainous terrain and landlocked position but also face similar structural challenges. “Climate change is a global issue. Both our mountainous countries face adverse effects of climate change. As Nepal has been raising mountain-specific issues at COP and other forums, I request Azerbaijan’s solidarity on this matter,” he said.
On the occasion, he drew attention to Nepal’s investment potential in the agriculture, tourism, and water resources sectors.
According to Advisor Pokharel, President Aliyev, who will continue as COP chair for another year, expressed his commitment to working closely on climate change issues.
Nepal and Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations in 1995. Both countries continue to collaborate on common interests such as sustainable development and climate change through the United Nations and other multilateral forums.
Meanwhile, President Paudel has left from Kathmandu from Baku.
(Translated from RSS)
