Nepal's Climate Diplomacy

Yuba Nath Lamsal:----- Climate change has lately emerged as a key agenda in the world. Until the late 20th century, this issue had been narrowly defined as a domain of science. Now environment and climate change no longer remain to be scientific connotation alone but topic of household talks. It has been a key part of political, economic, foreign policy, security, human rights, development, and diplomatic agendas. The world seems to be nearing the climate tipping point, which has raised greater alarm worldwide. Scientists and environmentalists are of the view that Earth’s temperature has been at an alarming level that was not felt for millions of years. If the present trend of greenhouse gas emissions and temperature rise continues unabated, the human species may see its extinction soon. This is therefore humanity’s existential issue. However, some countries, especially in the Global North, appear to be hesitant to take this matter with utmost seriousness. Massive deforestation Climate change is caused by a global temperature rise. The average temperature is rising every year due mainly to the burning of carbon-based fuels, massive deforestation, and other human activities in the name of development. All human beings are, in one way or another, responsible for global warming in general, but the Global North and fossil fuel-producing countries are more accountable. The global temperature has risen at the rate of about 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade compared to the pre-industrial period (1850–1900). Earth is facing the climate change consequences in multiple forms, including cyclones, floods, landslides, snow melting, drying of water sources, drought, changes in weather patterns, and sea level rise, among many. The developing and the least developed countries are facing more recurrent climate change-induced challenges and threats due to the mistakes they did not commit. Instead, the countries in the Global South are suffering from the crimes committed by others. As the threat of environmental degradation and climate change continues to afflict the world, there has been greater advocacy to address climate change issues globally. Right from the 19th century, scientists have been working in this field and have established the connection between carbon emissions and global temperature rise. Now countries have taken this issue in national and international forums with more seriousness. This is how environmental and climate change issues started emerging as a key agenda in international politics and diplomacy. The real momentum picked up in the late 20th century. As governments emphasized development and industrialization, its resultant impacts, including a high degree of pollution, deforestation, and depletion of natural resources, were visibly felt worldwide, leading to changes in the global climate and weather patterns in a more recurrent manner. In 1972, the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment was held in Stockholm, Sweden. This event served as a milestone in establishing the environment as a key topic of international diplomacy. The World Meteorological Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, organized the first World Climate Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1979 that laid the foundation for the Rio Earth Summit. As environmental and climate change emerged as an important agenda in international politics and diplomacy, the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme created a new mechanism called the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1988, intending to conduct more scientific research on the impact of climate change on human life and development. IPCC prepared a report in 1990 recommending the urgency of collaboration from all countries on the climate change issue. The UN Conference on Environment and Development, known as the Earth Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992, which is another important landmark in climate diplomacy. The Earth Summit created the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which entered into force in 1994. Ever since, UNFCCC holds annual Conference of the parties or COP to assess the developments in climate change regime and renew commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emission target. The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997, is yet another important step towards international climate diplomacy, which set legally binding greenhouse-gas emission-lowering targets. The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP21 in 2015, is yet another turning point in international climate diplomacy, which set binding targets of keeping global average temperature rise below 2°Celcius compared to the level of the pre-industrial era and pursue efforts to ultimately limit it to 1.5°C. Since COP1 in Berlin, UN has been holding conference of parties or COP annually, which is good international forum for climate diplomacy. COP31 is being held in Antalya, Turkey, on 9-20 November 2026, which is expected to set future action plans on the international climate regime. Nepal first joined the international environment and climate discourse in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference and the UNFCCC in 1992. Since then, Nepal has been actively participating in the UN and other international climate diplomacy discourse and has presented its voice on the impacts suffered due to climate change. But there has been stark weakness and glaring lacuna in follow-ups and inter-ministerial coordination on climate diplomacy. Foreign Ministry is the frontline institution of the country’s diplomacy, but the climate issue is considered to be the domain of other ministries. Human survival:------ After the recent Bhotekoshi and Budhigandaki disasters, climate diplomacy has emerged as a popular term in Nepal’s intellectual discourse. Climate is no longer an environmental issue but a question of human survival. Climate change has been a matter of human security as it is going to affect the entire humanity. If not addressed in time, the world may face acute water and food scarcity, health hazards, housing problems, mass migration and displacement by floods and landslides, sea level rise, social conflict, and extreme weather conditions, among others. The climate change issue, therefore, must be addressed at the earliest by adopting measures to reduce greenhouse emission including reduction of burning excessive fossil fuel, exploring more green energy sources and remodelling development projects. The new government headed by Prime Minister Balendra Shah seems to be giving higher priority to climate diplomacy. PM Shah put forth Nepal’s voice strongly in the UN General Assembly, which was quickly responded to by the international community with a decision to grant Nepal 20 million dollars from the UNFCCC Loss and Damage Fund. Although this is a drop in the bucket compared to the loss Nepal incurred, this is a good beginning. The government now needs to pursue further with utmost seriousness in all diplomatic negotiations that can help bridge the resource gap by facilitating more flow of climate funding. (The author is a former chief editor of this daily and a former ambassador. lamsalyubanath@gmail.com) Published on October 28, 2026 https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/88135