Kathmandu, Dec 2: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ addressed the high-level roundtable at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28). The event, titled “Call to the Mountains: Who Saves Us from the Climate Crisis?”, focused on urgent climate issues faced by mountainous countries.

During the session, chaired by Usha Sherchan, the chairperson of the Narayan Gopal Music Trust, PM Prachanda extended a warm welcome to the attendees. The roundtable aimed to discuss the climate crisis affecting mountainous regions and ecosystems.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the presence of distinguished guests, including the Prime Minister of Andorra, Xavier Espot Zamora, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres. He emphasized the escalating challenges posed by climate change in mountains and the cryosphere, stressing the need for collaborative efforts to limit global warming.

PM Prachanda highlighted the recent IPCC report, which outlined the severe impact of human-induced global warming on mountain communities and ecosystems. He urged international communities to unite in safeguarding a sustainable future for mountains and their inhabitants.

Nepal, hosting the highest point in the world, Mount Everest, is at the forefront of climate change challenges. The Prime Minister appealed to world leaders to prioritize mountain issues and proposed initiating a Dialogue on Mountain and Climate Change to find solutions.

The roundtable concluded with PM Prachanda expressing gratitude for the active participation and contributions from attendees. He urged nations to integrate the mountain agenda into COP28 negotiations and emphasized the critical need for fulfilling climate finance commitments.

In his concluding remarks, PM Prachanda emphasized the urgency of acting swiftly to ensure a sustainable future for mountains and their people. The session ended with gratitude extended to all participants for their efforts to address the climate crisis in mountainous regions.