Nepal delivered a strong call for climate justice during the Ministerial segment of COP30, where Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Madan Prasad Pariyar addressed global leaders in Belém, Brazil.

Speaking on behalf of Nepal, Minister Pariyar said the country, despite contributing minimally to global emissions, is suffering disproportionately from climate impacts. He highlighted rapidly retreating glaciers, worsening water and food insecurity, and a series of climate-induced disasters this year alone that claimed more than 300 lives. “Our agriculture, the backbone of our economy, is reeling,” he said.

Pariyar reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to ambitious climate action, noting that the country has submitted an action-oriented NDC3.0 and National Adaptation Plan, with a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045. He also underscored Nepal’s strong conservation record, with forest cover now exceeding 46 percent.

Calling climate finance to Nepal “negligible,” he urged developed nations to fulfill past commitments and deliver simplified, predictable, and grant-based support for vulnerable countries. He welcomed the launch of the Barbados Implementation Modality (BIM) and called for full operationalization of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD).

Nepal is now preparing to submit a funding proposal to the FRLD, which recently launched its first call for proposals under the BIM. The milestone marks the Fund’s transition to full operationalization, enabling its first interventions to address climate-related loss and damage in developing countries. An initial $250m has been allocated to support developing nations experiencing economic and non-economic loss and damage from both slow-onset and extreme climate-induced events.

The call for proposals, open for six months from Dec 15, outlines procedures, timelines, and criteria for countries seeking support. The FRLD currently holds $800m but only $250m is allocated as of now. And of $250m, $150m will be available for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Each country may submit proposals ranging from $5m to $25m.

In a virtual press conference organized by Nepal’s COP30 delegation, Joint-secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) Maheshwar Dhakal said Nepal has already begun drafting its proposal and will submit it as soon as possible. Dhakal, who also serves as a board member of the FRLD, said the call would provide a clear picture of global needs for loss and damage financing.

Dhakal also noted that 20 government delegates are representing Nepal in COP30 negotiations. Despite having a small team, he said Nepal is participating with qualitative and a diplomatic approach.

During negotiations, Nepal, speaking on behalf of Bhutan and Nepal, delivered a joint intervention on the mountain and climate change agenda. The statement, which also supported the remarks delivered by Kyrgyzstan on behalf of the Mountain Group, was delivered by Joint-secretary Dhakal.

Nepal and Bhutan expressed appreciation for the convening of the SB60 Expert Dialogue on Mountains and Climate Change and the informal summary report prepared by the SBI and SBSTA Chairs. They recommended continuing such dialogues from 2026, facilitated biennially by two Party-appointed co-facilitators responsible for selecting topics and preparing summary reports for the COP.

They also proposed establishing a joint agenda item under the SBI and SBSTA titled “Mountains and Climate Change,” beginning at SBSTA/SBI 64, to address climate vulnerabilities, progress, challenges, and opportunities in mountain regions. They requested SBSTA and SBI to consider the findings from the dialogues and identify actionable next steps to strengthen international cooperation for mountain regions.

In addition, Nepal and Bhutan called on Parties and observers to submit views on strengthening mountain-related climate action—covering adaptation, early warning systems, data and monitoring, resilience-building, and international cooperation—by 30 March 2026. They requested the UNFCCC Secretariat to prepare a synthesis report based on these submissions for discussion at SBSTA/SBI 64.

Addressing the press conference, Minister Pariyar also said the mountain agenda is a “common goal” for Nepal and must be highlighted globally because it is critical not only for Nepal but also for countries like India and Bangladesh. He said the agenda goes beyond physical geography and is tied to communities, livelihoods, and the global benefits derived from mountain ecosystems.

Minister Pariyar also held a bilateral meeting with India’s Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav at the sidelines of COP30.

Pariyar further called for integrating a dedicated mountain agenda into UNFCCC processes, referencing the ‘Sagarmatha Call for Action’ adopted in Kathmandu earlier this year. Nepal, he said, will continue advocating for global recognition of mountain nations’ unique vulnerabilities. He also stressed the need for all countries—including emerging economies—to submit ambitious NDCs, honor treaty obligations, respect scientific evidence, and uphold the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on climate justice.

Nepal also intervened in negotiations to replace age- and gender-disaggregated data with age-, gender-, and disability-disaggregated data, aligning with the country’s Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) framework adopted in NDC3.0 and other national policies.

Earlier, Minister Pariyar attended a session hosted by the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, where he outlined Nepal’s plans to expand clean-energy use, including electric vehicles and electric ovens. He also participated in the Ministerial Meeting of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), thanking Malawi for its leadership as outgoing chair and pledging full cooperation with the incoming chair, Timor-Leste.

In another engagement, Pariyar joined a meeting of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), reaffirming Nepal’s commitment to biodiversity conservation. He also met Ibrahim Cheikh Diong, Executive Director of the Loss and Damage Fund, to explore opportunities for Nepal to access financing for national projects.

Nepal hosted a side event titled ‘Sagarmatha to Belém: Advancing Climate Action’ to review progress since the ‘Sagarmatha Call for Action’ and strengthen the mountain agenda within the UNFCCC. Pariyar is also scheduled to attend a ministerial session on the global impacts of cryosphere loss.

Minister Pariyar arrived in Belém on Nov 15 and is set to return to Nepal on Thursday.

Meanwhile, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell urged nations to accelerate negotiations and match the rapid pace of climate action already unfolding in the real economy. Describing COP30 as having reached its “mid-stride,” Stiell warned that the pace inside negotiation rooms remains too slow. “The spirit is there, but the speed is not,” he said, calling for an end to “performative diplomacy” and urging ministers to resolve the toughest issues without delay.

Stiell noted that countries have generated a “trillion-dollar charge” into clean energy and grid expansion in just the first seven days of COP30. Last year alone, he said, more than $2.2trn flowed into renewable energy, more than the GDP of over 180 countries. Despite this momentum, climate disasters continue to disrupt millions of lives and raise basic living costs globally. “We absolutely cannot afford tactical delays or stone-walling,” he said. “We must roll up our sleeves, come together, and get the job done.”