Himalayas agenda left off COP31 formal list as major blocs withhold support: Nepal Foreign Minister
Nepal's Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the three countries would continue to face challenges in getting the issue formally recognised without the support of major countries
The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP31, commenced on November 9, 2026 in Antalya, Turkiye. Nepal's Foreign Minister, Shisir Khanal, revealed that an agenda item concerning the Himalayas, proposed jointly by Nepal, Bhutan, and Kyrgyzstan, was not included in the formal agenda due to lack of support from significant nations.
The Minister stated that while some countries explicitly backed the proposal, others were hesitant, which posed a challenge to its formal recognition. The European Union, a major bloc, showed no interest in the agenda, according to an anonymous source familiar with the discussions. Despite this setback, a research dialogue is expected during the conference, and the presidency has assured that a final text addressing mountain-related issues will be included in the outcome document.
Nepal emphasized the urgency of addressing the 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature overshoot, citing recent glacial lake outburst floods along the Nepal-China border as a warning of impending impacts on glacier-dependent regions globally. The Nepali delegation sought research assistance, financial support for adaptation and mitigation, and technology transfer, including satellite monitoring systems for mountains and glaciers.
The issue of climate justice was highlighted, with Nepal contributing minimally to global emissions but facing rapid melting of the Himalayas, resulting in devastating consequences.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
