PM highlights climate concerns at BIMSTEC summit

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 5: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that climate change has posed an existential threat to the entire humanity.

Addressing the Sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, Prime Minister Oli said that the risks of climate change are even higher for Nepal. 

“Our high Himalayas are perennial water towers and cooling stations of Asia. While these high mountains contribute as global heat sinks, they have also suffered a disproportionate assault despite our negligible emissions,” he said, adding that the impact is confined not only in mountains but also in the downstream lowlands and coastal areas. 

He also informed the heads of the states and heads of the government and others attending the sixth BIMSTEC Summit that Nepal is hosting the Sagarmatha Sambad in May this year to discuss the issue of climate change. 

“To highlight the plight of mountains and linkages between mountains and oceans, Nepal is organising the first edition of Sagarmatha Sambaad this May, and I look forward to seeing many of you there,” he said. 

He further said that the BIMSTEC region faces a wide range of extreme weather events— glacial floods, tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, heat waves, and droughts. 

Stating that the challenges of climate change are not distant threats; they are damaging our everyday life, he called for decisive acts to safeguard our people and our future. 

We must adopt a “whole of the region” and “whole of the world” approach to jointly undertake bold climate action, he added.  

Reiterating Nepal’s commitment to the BIMSTEC Charter and the principles it upholds, he said, “We take immense pride in leading the People-to-People Contact Sector and look forward to deepening partnerships across priority areas.”

As we stand at a historic crossroads, let us reaffirm our unwavering commitment to transforming the Bay of Bengal into a Prosperous, Resilient, and Open region, he said. 

Recalling how the seed of BIMSTEC was sown in Bangkok two decades ago, he said that in two decades, a profound change and transformation have been witnessed in the Bay of Bengal region and beyond.  

“In these two decades, the Bay of Bengal has emerged as one of the fastest growing regions in the global economic landscape. Yet, the challenges persist. And the quest for peace and prosperity persist,” he said. 

“We live in a world rife with compounding challenges— economic disparities, environmental vulnerabilities, and political uncertainties.”  

Stating that the global order is being redefined, Prime Minister Oli said that at this moment, BIMSTEC must not only navigate the changing tides but also seize the opportunity to reinvigorate the regional cooperation. 

“And I believe that the theme of the Summit –Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC provides us with that compass –a compass that is pro-people, pro-prosperity and 

pro-welfare,” he said.  

He said that the BIMSTEC exemplifies a unique collaboration between two dynamic regions- South Asia and Southeast Asia.

“As a unique bridge, it embodies collective aspirations of over 1.8 billion people striving for a Prosperous, Resilient and Open BIMSTEC, which is a befitting theme for this historic Summit,” he said

Prosperity, Resilience and Openness, the  three pillars, not only align with the Sustainable Development Goals but also resonate deeply with Nepal’s national aspiration of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis.’

While the region shows an impressive growth, many people are confronting the common enemy of poverty, he said, adding, “In such a context, prosperity is not an option; it is an obligation.”

He further said that the BIMSTEC region is richly endowed with natural resources, cultural diversity, and a youthful workforce. 

“From the majestic Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal's vibrant coastlines, we are blessed with abundant potential,” he said. 

Given the immense potential of the region, prosperity is not mere wishful thinking; it is an achievable destiny, he said. “But to arrive at destiny—we must harness it strategically; we must unlock it sustainably.” 

Stating that investing in human capital is non-negotiable, he recalled that the Fourth BIMSTEC Summit in Kathmandu had emphasised the importance of regional cooperation in education, skills development, and capacity-building.

He further said that regional connectivity is an important pillar in our quest for prosperity. 

“Connectivity of markets as well as minds, connectivity of infrastructures as well as ideas, connectivity of culture as well as cyber is yet another backbone of growth,” he said.  

He expressed his hope the implementation of the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity and BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation in a time-bound manner would bring about significant progress in this regard. 

He also expressed concerns that intra-regional trade in BIMSTEC remains a mere 5 per cent—far lower than ASEAN, EU, or NAFTA and called for a change to this. 

“Building an integrated Bay of Bengal region is a must to unlock our potential and capitalize on the complementarities we possess,” he said.  

He said not all economies in our region are equal, and we must extend preferential support to Member States with special needs to enable them to share common prosperity. 

Stating that the world is at a crossroads, Prime Minister Oli said, “Over the recent years, we have seen uncertainties stemming from multiple domains ranging from ecology to economy; from trade tensions to technological disruptions; from changing climate to conflicts; from pangs of pandemics to perils of polarisation.” 

He said in such an uncertain world, resilience is our strongest defence, antidote against despair and road to robustness.

He further said that when the world order is in flux, our strength lies in unity, and our future shines in solidarity and deeper collaboration.

“We are in a race against time. The future belongs to those who act with urgency and vision,” he said.  

He also extended condolence and sympathy to the governments and people of Myanmar and Thailand on behalf of the government and people of Nepal for the loss of precious lives and properties to the disastrous earthquake of last week.   “We pray and wish for quick recovery of the injured,” he said.  

The Summit was also addressed by the Prime Ministers and leaders of delegation from Thailand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. During the sixth Summit, the Member States inked the BIMSTEC Maritime Transport Cooperation.