Kathmandu, May 22: The climate experts gathered from various countries at an international dialogue Nepal government organized viewed the mountain ecosystem was at the receiving end of climate change.
Addressing the two day dialogue on ‘mountain, human and climate change’, they viewed mountain region had witnessed rapid change in climates, thereby wreaking havoc.
The first session was addressed by Bangladeshi Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Sabar Hussain; associate dean at UN Climate Change Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), Harry Vreuls; former special envoy of Kyrgyz’s President on mountains, Nurlan Aitmurzayev; and Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Felicity Volk.
In the same session, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha was the keynote speaker.
World’s 40 percent people are depended on mountain water- for drinking water, irrigation, hydropower etc- which however is facing challenges owing to global rise in temperate.
The climate change has further caused extreme weather events to which Nepal is bearing the brunt. The international dialogue is held to foster debate and advocacy for global attention on mountain.
DPM Shrestha bats for climate justice
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, has opined for the protection of the earth by minimizing the problems caused by climate change.
Speaking in an ‘International Dialogue’ related to climate change and its effect, held in Kathmandu on Wednesday, he said that due to climate change, the Himalayas are more affected and the snow is melting, so joint efforts are necessary to reduce these problems.
DPM Shrestha viewed that the climate change will continue to have a negative impact on the mountainous regions of countries like Nepal therefore all should be aware of its adverse effects on time. He emphasized that the temperature increase should be limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius, saying that the increasing temperature of the earth will increase the problem of climate change rapidly.
“The problems caused by climate change will continue to increase. As this is affecting the Himalayan region more, it seems that people’s life there will become more difficult and complicated,” he said, mentioning that the effects of climate change are having a serious impact on the peoples of the Himalayas, the climatic system, agriculture, wildlife among others.
Minister Shrestha opined that if mitigation and adaptation preparations are not made, the impact will be more adverse and vulnerable in the days to come.
He said, “So now we have to raise our voices for climate justice.”
