International climate expert dialogue to begin from Wednesday

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 21: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is scheduled to inaugurate a two-day International Expert Dialogue on Mountains, People and Climate, starting on May 22 in Chandragiri Hill, Kathmandu.

The dialogue aims to strengthen the mountain partnership framework with common understanding and action on climate change both at national and international levels. 

The dialogue is being hosted by  the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) at the 60th Session of SBSTA on June 5, 2024. 

Nepal hosted a side event dialogue titled Call of the Mountain: Who Saves Us from the Climate Crisis?, at COP 28 in Dubai last November,  where PM Prachanda announced to raise voices on climate change while promoting the mountain agenda in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiation process. Nepal has been initiating constant advocacy in the UN gatherings on the sensitivity of mountain conservation and climate change. 

PM Prachanda will formally open the dialogue and the Chair of SBSTA from (UNFCCC), the ministers from Bangladesh and Bhutan, the special ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic, a representative from the mountains partnership and high-level staff from development partners and youth will be attending the event. 

Over 200 participants from more than 25 countries who have been extensively working on climate change, and mountain and marine issues from both the mountainous and Small Inlands Developing States will attend the two-day programme. 

Nawal Kishor Sah Sudi, Minister of Forests and Environment, said, “We are ready to engage with different parties to bring the mountain issues into the forefront of the global climate negotiation discussions”. 

He further added, "International Expert Dialogue on Mountains, People and Climate is a follow up of a high-level side event entitled Call of the Mountain: Who Saves us from the Climate Crisis? organised at COP 28 under the leadership of Prime Minister Prachanda. 

Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment, said it was a great opportunity for the Government of Nepal to discuss with global participants and dignitaries on the mountain and beyond issues ahead of the UN-organised expert dialogue on mountain and climate change agenda in Bonn, Germany.

 He further added the presence of the SBSTA chair in the dialogue would show the commitment to mountain issues at the global climate negotiations. 

Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment, said “Global gathering in Nepal will be an opportunity for Nepal to showcase its leadership and spearhead the mountain dialogue at the global climate negotiation to ensure the agenda to reflect in UNFCCC process” 

The International expert dialogue will have 10 sessions under three themes which are Climate Science and Mountain Evidence, Mountain Solutions: Common Grounds and Common Understanding and Mountain Prospective: Resources and Opportunities. Each session will have a keynote speaker, presentation, and panel discussion and over 50 global speakers will be making the deliberation. 

The summary of the chair will be developed from this dialogue and it will be handed over to Harry Vreuls, Chair of the SBSTA. The expert dialogue is being led by the Climate Change Management Division, Ministry of Forests and Environment supported by several partners working on climate change issues.