Kathmandu, Aug 18: Minister for Forest and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, has said regional cooperation is warranted to face challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution.
During his address to an inaugural session of the Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Meet 2025 in Kathmandu, today, the Minister said the event provided an opportunity for them to discuss the future of the Hindu Kush Himalayan region with two billion people associated with it, and express resolutions and partnerships towards building a climate change-resilient zone.
He hoped the participations of parliamentarians and experts in the event would contribute to formulating ‘efficient policies’ and impactful implementation. Stating that he represented the Federal Parliament from Mugu, the Himalayan district in the Karnali Province, the Minister said the depletion of water resources in Himalayan region, and the disappearance of herbs and pastureland are among those consequences of the climate change. As he informed, the Rara Lake, the famous lake in the district, has also been affected by the climate change.
“We are suffering the severe consequences of climate change despite contributing the least to the carbon emission,” Shahi lamented. Stating that Nepal’s forest cover has reached 46 percent, he said the climate change mitigation, adaptation and damage managements have been prioritised through the Third Nationally Determined Contribution. #hindukush
