Nepal has urged the international community to give greater priority to the climate crisis facing mountain regions, calling for dedicated action on mountains, fairer access to climate finance and stronger support for countries bearing the brunt of climate change.

These were among the key issues raised by Nepal’s delegation at the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31), being held in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20.

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, who led the delegation to COP31, returned home on Saturday while the conference continues through November 20. Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment Gita Chaudhary will lead the Nepali delegation for the remaining days.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal’s priorities at the conference included limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, climate justice, protecting mountain ecosystems, adaptation, financial support for loss and damage, and strengthening multi-hazard early warning systems.

Addressing the conference’s opening session on November 9, Khanal drew attention to the devastating effects of recent climate-induced disasters in Nepal on people’s lives and livelihoods, infrastructure and ecosystems.

He called for a dedicated programme of work on mountains and climate change under COP31 and urged the inclusion of mountain-specific indicators in the Global Goal on Adaptation and the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance.

He also called for international support to address climate impacts stretching from the mountains to the sea, as well as for post-disaster reconstruction and recovery.

Speaking on behalf of the least developed countries (LDCs) at the Baku High-Level Dialogue on Climate Resilience on November 10, Khanal said countries that had contributed least to climate change were bearing a disproportionate share of its impacts.

He said adaptation must be recognised as an integral part of climate justice and that commitments to adaptation finance must translate into effective action.

Khanal and Chaudhary also attended the Antalya Summit on November 11.

At a high-level event on Early Warnings for All that day, Khanal said effective early warning systems were vital to protecting lives in mountain communities. He highlighted the need to collect data in high-altitude areas, expand satellite-based monitoring and snow surveillance, and disseminate warnings in local languages.

On November 12, Khanal addressed a high-level event titled ‘Advancing the Mountain Agenda’, jointly organised by Nepal, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan and Tajikistan. He said the crisis facing mountains was a crisis for humanity as a whole.

Calling for mountain issues to be brought into the mainstream of global climate negotiations, he urged countries to make deep emissions cuts, provide climate finance through grants rather than loans, ensure swift and equitable support for loss and damage, and strengthen scientific monitoring of glaciers.

Nepal also joined Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan and international partners, including the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the JOY Environment Network, in organising a high-level event on adaptation finance for mountain resilience.

Addressing the event, Khanal outlined the human, physical and economic losses caused by recent devastating floods in Nepal. He said adequate and easily accessible adaptation finance was essential to building resilience in mountain regions.

He also spoke at an event at the Nepal Pavilion on sharing experiences and strengthening regional cooperation to tackle transboundary climate-induced disasters in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. He emphasised regional cooperation, technology transfer, the exchange of knowledge and experience, and partnerships among multiple stakeholders to address shared climate challenges.

On November 13, Khanal addressed an event on the climate finance needs of small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries. He called for predictable, accessible and grant-based climate finance to protect countries vulnerable to climate change and fragile mountain ecosystems.

Khanal inaugurated the Nepal Pavilion at the conference venue on November 9. According to the ministry, the pavilion showcased Nepal’s climate ambitions, achievements in biodiversity conservation and community-level climate adaptation initiatives.

On the sidelines of the conference, Khanal held separate meetings with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos and Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio. They discussed issues of mutual interest and concern.

He also joined a group meeting with Guterres and foreign ministers from least developed countries.

Khanal met officials of the Non-Resident Nepali Association’s National Coordination Council in Türkiye, including its president, Binod Poudel. He said the government was committed to addressing problems faced by Nepalis abroad, improving digital consular services, responding promptly to grievances, and promoting safe, dignified and productive employment.

He added that protecting the rights and interests of migrant workers, particularly women, remained a government priority.

The ministry said Khanal also spoke to national and international media outlets about Nepal’s participation and priorities at COP31, as well as current regional and international issues.

Between November 9 and 13, Khanal addressed the conference’s opening session, attended the Antalya Summit, spoke at six high-level and thematic events, inaugurated the Nepal Pavilion, held three bilateral and high-level meetings, joined a group meeting of LDC representatives with the UN secretary-general, met members of the Nepali diaspora and took part in media engagements, the ministry said.

The ministry said Nepal’s participation had helped draw attention to the specific climate challenges facing mountain countries. Nepal set out its positions on a dedicated programme of work on mountains and climate change, equitable access to climate finance, loss and damage, scientific monitoring of mountain regions, technology transfer, capacity development, early warning systems and regional cooperation.

Chaudhary will lead Nepal’s delegation in the remaining negotiations and meetings at the conference.