"Int'l cooperation against climate change can be further strengthened thru collective partnership"

Government's Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal has said international cooperation against climate change could be further strengthened through a collective partnership.

During his address to a concluding session of the three-day "Sagarmatha Sambaad" themed Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity, today, the Chief Secretary said he was confident that the Sagarmatha Sambaad played a role in strengthening a wider cooperation to minimise climate crisis.  

The encouraging presence of senior personalities from neighboring and friendly countries, representatives from regional and international organisations, and of various stakeholder concerns contributed to making the multi-stakeholder dialogue a success, he said. 

"The Sagarmatha Sambaad remained memorable, providing an opportunity to amplify our voices for rapid and effective actions for mitigating adverse impacts of climate change. 

"We have no excuse to make any delays in taking measures for addressing the climate crisis.  Dialogue and collaboration may inspire us for implementing collective actions," he said, adding that the Sagarmatha Sambaad is expected to bring out issues relating to water, biological diversity, food and health crisis and disasters along the mountain region and the status of glaciers, promoting us to enhance the coping mechanism.  Specifically, it has highlighted that the citizens of mountain regions and the indigenous communities are affected by the climate crisis disproportionately.

Stating that snow melting in the Himalayas remains as one of the significant impacts of the climate crisis, he said such impacts have been extended to the hills, Terai and the coastal areas. He voiced prompt climate crisis response measures based on scientific evidence.

"Through this dialogue, we laid an emphasis on the promotion of climate science, improved access to technology, the promotion of innovation, and the exchange of knowledge and best practices for minimisation of impacts. We also highlighted the need to ensure simple and just access to climate finance and to provide greater support to vulnerable countries and communities," he added.

According to the Chief Secretary, Nepal utilised the forum to clearly voice the need to strengthen climate resilience, investment, and innovative financial mechanisms, underline the need of prioritizing efforts to advance clean energy transition, promote green energy, and ensure sustainable development.

The Chief Secretary further added that the energy transition not only promotes nature-based solutions but also supports investment in robust early warning systems for mountain risk reduction and mitigation.

"We once again call for the establishment of a dedicated fund for mountain nations and the building of a global platform specifically focused on climate change and mountain issues," he said.

"Standing on the global stage, we have voiced a collective call to action for a just, resilient, and sustainable future—from the Himalayas to the seas, from the hills to the islands," the Chief Secretary added.

Sagarmatha Sambaad successful to flag up issues from mountains to sea: Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has said that the Sagarmatha Sambaad has been successful in voicing about the issues arising from climate change from the mountains to the islands.

Addressing the closing session of the Sambaad today, she said, "This edition of the Sagarmatha Sambaad has brought together the voices of leaders, policymakers, experts, scholars, youth, civil society, international organisations and the community from the high mountains to island nations in the spirit of a genuine dialogue."

Emphasising that collective efforts are necessary for the implementation of the dialogue's conclusions and achieving targeted goals, Minister Rana stated that the dialogue is not just a program but a celebration of the confluence of ideas and shared responsibility.

"Just as Sagarmatha (Mt Everest) stands firm reminding us of our determination, may the result of this dialogue remind us of our resolve," she added.

Stating that the topics and suggestions discussed in the dialogue will be raised at various international forums, the Foreign Minister informed the session that this topic will be raised at the high-level international conference on glacier conservation to be held in Tajikistan at the end of this month, in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and the UN climate change conference COP-30 to be held in Brazil this year.

The Foreign Minister informed that the second edition of the Sagarmatha Sambaad will take place in 2027.

 

Bagmati Province Government spends only 38 percent of its budget in 10 months

The Bagmati Province Government has spent only 38.91 percent of its budget in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year 2081/82.

The provincial government has spent 35.01 percent of the budget on capital expenditure and 46.79 percent on current expenditure during the current fiscal year from Shrawan to Baisakh, said Information Officer at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Planning, Indraraj Sanjyal.

The provincial government has spent Rs 13.27 billion on capital expenditure and Rs 12.87 billion on current expenditure totaling Rs 25.1147 billion. He said that out of the budget of Rs 64.54 billion brought by the provincial government for the current fiscal year, the capital expenditure is less than the current expenditure.

The provincial chief attorney's office spent the most of the allocated budget at 68.92 percent while the lowest was spent by the culture and tourism ministry at 16.48 percent.

Similarly, in the current fiscal year 2081/82 the provincial government has received only Rs 3.73877 billion out of the estimated Rs 4.538 billion to be collected from internal sources.

Information Officer Sanjyal said that the provincial government's revenue collection has been affected due to the decline in real estate and new vehicle purchase and sale transactions owing to economic liquidity.

 

Three bills to be presented in Parliament today

The House of Representatives meeting is scheduled to be held at 11 am today.

As per the agenda of the day, a proposal seeking endorsement of the House to send the 'Nepal Aviation Services Authority Bill, 2081' to the concerned committee for clause-wise discussion will be presented.

Similarly, a proposal to send the 'Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal Bill, 2081' to the concerned committee for clause-wise discussion will be tabled. Both these bills are likely to be presented by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey.

Similarly, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Raghuji Pant will present a proposal to discuss the 'Dasarath Chand University of Health Sciences Bill, 2080' that originated in the National Assembly along with the report of the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee. 

Along with discussions on these bills there is an agenda to endorse them as well, said Padma Prasad Pandey, General Secretary of the Federal Parliament Secretariat.