Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has urged ministries and agencies to robustly advocate for climate justice at the upcoming COP-29 climate conference. During a meeting of the Environment Conservation and Climate Change Management National Council on Friday, PM Oli emphasized the importance of addressing the concerns of vulnerable nations, including Nepal, as articulated in the recent UN General Assembly.

The UN climate conference is scheduled to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024. President Ram Chandra Paudel will lead the Nepali delegation at the conference.

PM Oli reiterated the necessity for Nepal to present a clear stance on climate change and its impacts. He has been a vocal advocate for compensation from nations responsible for high carbon emissions, highlighting the detrimental effects of global warming on the Himalayan region and its inhabitants.

Furthermore, PM Oli called for a global action plan aimed at maintaining environmental balance from the mountains to the seas. He directed stakeholders to prioritize extensive forest expansion, addressing the issue of deforestation in designated forest areas. Industries will be permitted to operate in non-forest regions, provided they adhere to environmental protection standards.

The meeting also reviewed the council’s achievements over the past year, including updates on the implementation of previous decisions and the renaming of the Ministry of Forests and Environment to the Ministry of Forests, Environment, and Climate Change.

Key attendees included Deputy Prime Minister Prakashman Singh, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Devendra Dahal, and Forests and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi, among others.