Nepal is in the final stages of preparation for its participation in the 29th UN Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29), which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22. Led by President Ramchandra Paudel, Nepal aims to spotlight the urgent challenges posed by climate change, especially in mountain regions. Key topics such as climate adaptation, loss and damage, climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity development will dominate Nepal’s agenda at the conference. A national team, including three joint secretaries and experts from the Ministry of Forests and Environment, has arrived in Baku to engage in preliminary meetings, while the Ministry has prepared a national status paper based on past conference discussions, parliamentary guidelines, and input from stakeholders. Nepal will host a high-level meeting on November 13 to address climate impacts in mountainous regions and share the losses caused by recent monsoon-related hazards in regions like Melamchi and the Kathmandu Valley.
As one of the countries highly vulnerable to climate change, Nepal has undertaken ambitious initiatives for green and resilient development. The country’s second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), National Adaptation Plan, and the National Loss and Damage Framework highlight strategies for emissions reduction and adaptation. Additionally, Nepal’s commitment to enhancing forest cover and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2045 underscores its proactive approach, bolstered by the Third National Communications Report and the Long-term Low Emission Development Strategy. Nepal is calling for greater climate finance support and international cooperation to meet its goals, having already made notable progress, such as meeting afforestation targets ahead of schedule.