Mountains at hot spot of climate change: Deuba

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said mountains lie at the hot spot in the quagmire of climate change.        

Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day Regional Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Mountain Solutions organized as part of the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development (IYM 2022) here Wednesday, Prime Minister Deuba viewed, "The mountains and the people living there continue to confront with several difficulties. Poverty, food insecurity, environmental degradation, risk of disasters and limited access to basic services are the challenges that the mountainous regions increasingly confront."    
The mountains and the people there are not only the barometers of global warming but also victims of disproportionate impact despite the negligible emissions of the mountainous countries like Nepal, PM Deuba reminded, adding that the world has not done enough to address environmental degradation.    
According to him, the inadequate efforts to check impacts have triggered the crisis to the proportion beyond control. "We need to take urgent measures to halt global temperature rise to secure the future of humanity. Nepal has adopted an ambitious roadmap to achieve net zero carbon emission by 2045. We call upon the international community for meaningful support in our efforts."    
The PM further said many scientific studies of the extremes weather patterns reveal that mountain regions are getting warmer much faster than the global average. Melting of snow, retreat of glacier, drought, erratic rainfall, flood, already hint of a cautionary tale.    
Commitment-delivery gap erodes credibility of int'l cooperation    
"We must not suffer from inadequacy of commitment, action and delivery on development outcomes. The commitment-delivery gap will erode credibility of the international cooperation," PM Deuba viewed, seeking true partnership to realize the SDGs by all.    
He viewed that agenda for sustainable mountain development has always been a priority matter for Nepal. Deuba reminded, "We raised our voice in Glasgow during the COP 26. But there is a long way to go for mainstreaming mountain agenda in climate negotiations. We need stronger collaboration among mountain countries in UN Climate change negotiations to address our agenda. Nepal will continue to play an active role in global forums to address the concerns of the mountainous countries."    
PM Deuba underscored the need for not leaving the mountain regions behind as the world is in the decade of action to deliver on sustainable development goals. To address the challenges, guarantee of adequate financing –both internal as well as external, is imperative.    
Nature based solutions key to ecological needs    
Moreover, the PM said in quest of recovery from COVID-19, the mountainous countries require further cooperation and support from the international community. Preservation of indigenous cultures, generation of employment opportunities and guarantee of development of sustainable infrastructures is equally imperative, he laid emphasis.    
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