President of Nepal Ramchandra Paudel has urged United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to make developed countries aware of the adverse impact of climate change. President Paudel requested during a group meeting held by the UN Secretary-General with the Heads of State and Governments of underdeveloped countries, who are currently in Baku to participate in the COP 29 conference. President Paudel emphasised that since countries like Nepal are not the reasons behind climate change, the funds they get to tackle its impact should be provided as grants and not as debt. The United Nations should remind the developed countries that the problem of climate change, which is now affecting countries like Nepal, will come to affect them as well.
President Paudel said that underdeveloped and developing countries have not been able to get significant help from developed countries to prevent and adapt to climate change impacts. He emphasized that the UN should increase its efforts to gather adequate financial and other support for the adaptation and mitigation efforts of underdeveloped and developing countries.
Stating that countries like Nepal have not been able to access climate funds due to various procedural and other complications, the President also noted that resources obtained are more effectively spent through the government mechanisms as the government is always accountable to the people. As Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries, Nepal is committed to protecting the interests and rights of the LDCs. UN-SG said that LDC’s voices are crucial and must be heard. The head of the interim government of Bangladesh, the Vice president of Malawi and the Minister of Gambia participated in the consultation meeting on COP29 priorities.
