Nepal Plans Cross-Party Participation at COP31 to Present Unified Climate Position

KATHMANDU: The Nepal government is preparing to ensure the participation of representatives from different political parties at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), scheduled to take place in Türkiye from November 9 to 20.

The initiative aims to develop a common national position on climate change and strengthen Nepal’s representation at the international forum, according to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

At the initiative of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, the government plans to include representatives of both ruling and opposition parties represented in the House of Representatives.

A discussion on the proposed participation was held on Thursday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers with chief whips and representatives of various political parties.

Agriculture, Forest and Environment Minister Gita Chaudhary and the prime minister’s political adviser Asim Shah attended the meeting.

Participants discussed Nepal’s participation in COP31, the priority issues the country should raise at the conference and ways to present matters of national interest effectively before the international community.

The government has emphasised the need to highlight the protection of the Himalayan region, climate-induced disasters, climate justice, energy and climate finance.

Nepal is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, and the government wants to use the international conference to draw attention to the challenges facing the country and its climate priorities.