TURKIYE: Nepal has inaugurated its national pavilion at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, highlighting the country’s climate priorities, biodiversity conservation efforts and community-led adaptation initiatives.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shisir Khanal, who is leading the Nepali delegation to the conference, inaugurated the pavilion today.

The pavilion showcases Nepal’s achievements in biodiversity conservation and efforts to help local communities adapt to the growing impacts of climate change, while reflecting the country’s climate ambitions on the international stage.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Minister Khanal called for greater global attention to the mounting threats facing the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

Khanal particularly highlighted the growing risks associated with melting glaciers and other cryosphere-related hazards, describing the August 26 Bhotekoshi disaster as a ”Himalayan tsunam”.

He said countries like Nepal, despite contributing relatively little to global emissions, are bearing a disproportionate share of the consequences of climate change.

Emphasizing the need for collective action, Minister Khanal called for climate justice, easier access to financial support for loss and damage, stronger resilience in mountain regions and greater protection for downstream communities.

Likewise, Minister for Health and Food Safety Nisha Mehta and member of the House of Representatives Sagar Dhakal addressed the inaugural ceremony.

Today itself, Khanal also attended the opening plenary of COP31, chaired by Türkiye’s Minister for Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change Murat Kurum.

Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen presided over the negotiation process.

On the sidelines of the global climate conference, Minister Khanal held a bilateral meeting with his Ethiopian counterpart, Gedion Timothewos.

During the meeting, Minister Khanal expressed appreciation for the solidarity and sympathy extended by the Ethiopian government and people following Nepal’s recent devastating climate-related disasters.

The two ministers exchanged views on wide range of issues including climate change, sustainable graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category, trade, air connectivity, tourism and people-to-people relations.

They also discussed ways to strengthen the friendly and cooperative relations between Nepal and Ethiopia.