Kathmandu: The need to strengthen Nepal’s climate diplomacy and translate international climate commitments into meaningful action at the local level was highlighted during a high-level panel discussion organised by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Nepal.
The discussion, titled “Nepal’s Roadmap for Global Climate Diplomacy: Translating Global Commitments into Local Justice,” brought together experts from academia, environmental conservation, natural resource management and public policy to examine Nepal’s position in international climate negotiations and the challenges of delivering climate justice at home.
The programme opened with a keynote address by Hon. Gita Chaudhary, Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment, who highlighted Nepal’s role in global climate negotiations and the potential to transform its climate vulnerability into diplomatic leverage. Her address underscored the importance of strengthening Nepal’s voice in international climate forums while advocating for the concerns and priorities of climate-vulnerable communities.
The panel discussion was moderated by Ms. Sarah Sapsanamma Rai, a climate change broadcast journalist and PhD scholar. The discussion provided an opportunity to explore how Nepal can develop a more strategic and coordinated approach to climate diplomacy while ensuring that international commitments translate into tangible benefits for communities facing the impacts of climate change.
The panel featured Prof. Dr. Sangeeta Singh, Director of the Centre for Applied Research and Development at the Institute of Engineering; Dr. Dipak Gyawali, Academician at the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology and former Minister of Water Resources; Dr. Sushila Chatterjee Nepali, conservationist and community-based natural resource management specialist; and Dr. Kiran Paudyal, former Chairperson of the Chure-Terai Madhesh Conservation Development Board, Government of Nepal.
Their participation brought together diverse perspectives on climate policy, scientific research, environmental conservation, water resources and community-based natural resource management, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach to addressing Nepal’s climate challenges.
The programme concluded with closing remarks by Chief Guest Mr. Bishnu Prasad Gautam, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He emphasised the importance of sustaining climate-related dialogue, strengthening collaboration across sectors and ensuring meaningful follow-up on the recommendations emerging from the discussion.
The event highlighted a critical priority for Nepal: climate diplomacy must go beyond international negotiations and policy declarations to deliver climate justice, strengthen local resilience and address the needs of vulnerable communities.
For a country that contributes relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions but faces disproportionate climate risks, stronger international advocacy, equitable climate finance, institutional coordination and locally grounded implementation remain essential. Nepal’s global climate commitments will ultimately be meaningful only when they lead to measurable improvements in the lives and livelihoods of people on the ground.
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Published Date 2026-11-06 10:57:00
