Banking News – Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has emphasized that tackling the challenges posed by climate change requires cooperation from all sectors, not just government efforts.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Conference, Dr. Deuba stressed that addressing issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and the growing need for clean air demands active leadership, strong voices, and firm commitments from parliamentarians in addition to government initiatives.

“Climate crisis is no longer a distant forecast, but a daily reality,” she said. “We, as people’s representatives, are not only policymakers but also the custodians of people’s hopes and their future.”

Citing the latest report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), she noted that global temperature rise has already reached close to 1.5 degrees Celsius, placing the Paris Agreement targets under severe threat. She also recalled the recent advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which defines climate change as a legal, moral, and political responsibility of nations.

Highlighting the devastating floods that recently hit India, Pakistan, and Nepal, Dr. Deuba said the Hindu Kush Himalaya region has become one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world. “Nepal is among the most climate-sensitive countries globally. Despite our negligible carbon emissions, we have become victims of long-term climate injustice,” she remarked.

She further informed that Nepal has set an ambitious target to achieve a “net-zero economy” by 2045, submitted an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and presented a 25-point action plan to the world through the Sagarmatha Dialogue.

Achieving these goals, she underscored, will require strong international cooperation, climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building.

The Hindu Kush Himalaya Parliamentarians’ Conference kicked off in Kathmandu today, bringing together lawmakers from across the region, senior government officials, and climate experts.