18 December 2024, NIICE Commentary 9785
Binee Tamang
COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22, 2024, brought together global leaders, experts, and civil society to discuss key climate issues such as adaptation, resilience, climate finance, gender equality, and the role of Indigenous Peoples. The conference made progress on carbon markets and financial support, with developed countries pledging $300 billion annually to assist developing nations. However, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner emphasized that this pledge is just a starting point, as the true cost of climate action is much higher, and climate finance is a global investment for a safer, more equitable future.
Nepal’s Active Participation and Agenda at COP29
Nepal has actively participated in all major meetings and COPs, starting from the adoption of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in New York in 1992, to the Kyoto Protocol during COP3 in 1997, and the Paris Agreement during COP 21 in 2015. Nepal was represented by a high-level delegation led by President Ramchandra Paudel at COP29. The key representatives from Nepal officially invited to attend COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2024 included Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi, Secretary Dipak Kumar Kharal, and Sindhu Dhungana, the Chief of the Climate Change Management Division at the Ministry of Forests and Environment. Nepal’s agenda included addressing climate financing, mountain-specific vulnerabilities, loss and damage, technology transfer, and capacity development, with a focus on the unique challenges faced by mountainous regions due to climate change, such as glacier melting and biodiversity loss.
Nepal’s Key Contributions and Leadership at COP29
Nepal’s participation in COP29 was productive, with the country emphasizing key climate change issues. During the conference, President Paudel highlighted the need for increased climate finance, technology transfer, and support for least developed countries (LDCs) facing the impacts of global warming. He reiterated the importance of an integrated approach to climate action, especially between mountainous and coastal regions, and stressed that “protecting the Himalayas is protecting the Earth.” Nepal also proposed hosting the Sagarmatha Sambad (Everest Dialogue) to foster global collaboration on climate issues. During COP29, President Paudel chaired a high-level event on “Loss and Damage in the Himalayas” and also led a session on loss and damage in mountain regions, focusing on issues from areas like Melamchi, Mustang, and the Kathmandu Valley. In addition, Nepal presented research on the impacts of urbanization and climate change in the country and emphasized the need for increased international financial support to implement climate strategies. President Paudel advocated for accessible funding for developing nations facing the severe impacts of global warming.
To strengthen bilateral relations and advance climate action, President Paudel held meetings with various leaders, including the UN Secretary-General and the President of Azerbaijan. The Nepali delegation, led by the Ministry of Forests and Environment, also actively participated in the discussions to ensure that Nepal’s national interests were well-represented.
LDCs’ Criticism of COP29 Outcomes and the Role of COP in Supporting Mountain Regions
The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) expressed disappointment over the outcomes of COP29, criticizing developed nations for inadequate climate finance and insufficient action on climate change. LDC Chair Evans Njewa called the results a “betrayal,” and Nepal’s Dr. Sindhu Prasad Dhungana emphasized the need for a $1.3 trillion climate fund to support vulnerable nations. Experts noted that major greenhouse gas emitters prioritized their own interests, further sidelining the needs of vulnerable countries. COP29 could have played a crucial role by supporting initiatives like the Sagarmatha Sambad (Everest Dialogue), promoting integrated climate action for mountainous regions, and ensuring dedicated financing and capacity-building for mountain ecosystems to address climate challenges effectively.
Indigenous communities face systemic barriers in accessing climate finance, as seen at COP29 where Preity Gurung of the Tamang community called for $5 trillion in grants, but only $300 billion was pledged. These communities often struggle with complex bureaucratic processes and loans from institutions like the IMF and World Bank, which do not meet their needs and worsen debt. Gurung and others advocate for direct access to funds, especially for Indigenous women and youth, who possess crucial knowledge for sustainable practices. Indigenous Led Funds (ILFs) are seen as a more effective solution, bypassing barriers and enabling communities to lead climate action aligned with their priorities.
President Paudel’s Call for Climate Justice and Global Action at COP29
President Ramchandra Paudel, speaking at the COP29 World Leaders Climate Action Summit, emphasized the need to redirect resources currently spent on arms towards climate adaptation and mitigation efforts to ensure a sustainable future. He highlighted the injustice of countries like Nepal, which must divert limited resources meant for poverty reduction towards climate action due to the severe impacts of global warming, despite their negligible carbon emissions. Paudel called for the immediate implementation of the “polluter pays” principle, the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund, and increased climate finance for vulnerable countries. He also stressed the importance of technology transfer, capacity-building grants, and grants-based climate finance disbursed through national treasuries. Paudel reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to sustainable resource use, including increased forest cover and clean energy, while urging a global approach to climate justice that recognizes the contributions of countries like Nepal. He concluded by advocating for integrated climate strategies from mountains to the sea, promoting the Sagarmatha Sambad (Everest Dialogue) to further this cause, and emphasizing that protecting the Himalayas is vital for the well-being of humanity.
COP29 to Support Sagarmatha Sambad for Mountain Climate Action
The global climate awareness campaign like Sagarmatha Sambad (the Everest Dialogue) is an initiative focused on raising awareness and fostering international cooperation to address the unique climate challenges faced by mountainous regions, particularly the Himalayas, through dialogue and climate action.COP29 can play a crucial role in supporting such initiatives by endorsing it as a formal platform within UNFCCC discussions, focusing on the unique climate challenges faced by mountainous regions like the Himalayas. It can promote an integrated approach to climate action from mountains to oceans, pushing for dedicated climate financing for mountain ecosystems and supporting resilience-building programs.
COP29 can also emphasize capacity-building and technology transfer to mountain communities, encourage research collaborations on climate impacts in high-altitude areas, and strengthen mechanisms for loss and damage specific to mountain regions. By advocating for these issues and raising global awareness, COP29 can help ensure that mountain countries receive the necessary resources, policies, and international cooperation to address climate change and its impacts effectively.
Binee Tamang is a Research Intern at NIICE.
