Nepal PM Oli UN Fund: Climate Support & Himalayan Protection
19th May 2025, Kathmandu
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli held an official courtesy meeting with Ibrahim Thiaw Diong, Executive Director of the United Nations’ Loss and Damage Fund, at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar on Friday.
Nepal PM Oli UN Fund
Their conversation centered on climate resilience, the protection of Himalayan ecosystems, and support for vulnerable countries like Nepal.
Sagarmatha Dialogue Praised
During the meeting, Prime Minister Oli thanked Director Diong for attending the first Sagarmatha Dialogue, a high-level climate summit organized by the Government of Nepal. He emphasized the importance of such platforms for raising global awareness about the severe impacts of climate change in the Himalayas.
He stated that Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) and other Himalayan glaciers are not just national treasures but hold global significance. Their degradation would have cross-border consequences, affecting millions of lives. Therefore, he urged world leaders and institutions to act urgently to preserve the fragile mountain environment.
Climate Inaction from Developed Nations
The Prime Minister expressed concern over some wealthy nations attempting to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. He noted that such actions risk undermining collective climate commitments. For developing nations like Nepal, which are on the frontline of the climate crisis, global cooperation remains crucial.
Oli stressed that Nepal has contributed the least to global emissions, yet it suffers some of the most severe consequences—melting glaciers, erratic rainfall, floods, and landslides. Therefore, justice and equity must guide global climate finance efforts.
Commitment from the UN Fund
In response, Executive Director Ibrahim Diong congratulated Nepal for organizing the Sagarmatha Dialogue and for its strong commitment to environmental protection. He acknowledged Nepal’s leadership in bringing attention to climate issues affecting mountain countries.
Diong also assured that the Loss and Damage Fund will prioritize countries like Nepal when disbursing future climate support. He stated that the fund aims to help nations facing irreversible damage caused by climate change, such as rising temperatures, melting snowcaps, and biodiversity loss.
Loss and Damage Fund: Background
The Loss and Damage Fund was created under the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) after the COP27 Conference in 2022. The fund addresses the needs of developing nations that are already experiencing severe impacts from climate-related disasters.
Its goal is to ensure financial support for climate-vulnerable countries. This includes rebuilding communities after floods, helping people adapt to rising sea levels, and restoring ecosystems destroyed by droughts and forest fires.
The fund’s board consists of 26 members:
12 from developed countries
14 from developing countries
All members are signatories to the Paris Agreement
Nepal’s Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, serves as an invited board member representing Least Developed Countries (LDCs). His role is to advocate for the interests of low-income countries that lack the resources to respond to climate disasters.
Decision to Prioritize Mountain Nations
Director Diong emphasized that mountain nations are especially vulnerable to global warming. Nepal, home to some of the world’s tallest peaks, faces alarming rates of glacial retreat. This has implications for freshwater supply, agriculture, and energy.
He stated that the Loss and Damage Fund would give special consideration to mountainous and landlocked countries. Nepal’s geographical and economic conditions make it a prime candidate for early support from the fund.
High-Level Officials Present
The meeting was attended by several senior government officials. Krishna Prasad Dhakal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Environment, joined the discussion. Both officials have been deeply involved in climate negotiations and environmental diplomacy.
Their presence reflected the government’s whole-of-nation approach to addressing climate risks and accessing international resources.
Nepal’s National Action
In recent years, Nepal has taken several steps to integrate climate change into national planning. The government has formulated the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), promoted community forest management, and adopted green infrastructure policies.
Despite limited financial resources, Nepal has shown strong political will to promote climate action. It aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
Prime Minister Oli reiterated Nepal’s expectation that international partners fulfill their climate finance commitments, especially under the Loss and Damage pillar of the UNFCCC. He called for fairness, transparency, and urgency in fund disbursement.
Looking Ahead
The meeting between Prime Minister Oli and Executive Director Diong marked a significant moment in Nepal’s climate diplomacy. It reaffirmed Nepal’s leadership in global environmental forums and its right to receive timely support.
With global temperatures rising and Himalayan ecosystems under threat, Nepal hopes that its proactive stance will translate into increased financial and technical assistance from the international community.
Both sides agreed to continue their collaboration to strengthen resilience, build adaptive capacity, and protect the unique and vulnerable Himalayan environment.
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