Climate justice must be translated into action, not slogans: Foreign Minister Khanal

KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has stressed that climate justice must be translated into concrete action rather than remaining a slogan, calling on the international community to provide Nepal with new, accessible and grant-based climate finance to address the impacts of climate change.

Addressing the Kathmandu Climate BK-2026 programme on Thursday, Khanal said climate change is directly affecting Nepal’s development, agriculture, infrastructure, water security, public health, energy transition, financial stability and even foreign policy.

“Although Nepal contributes less than 0.1 percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, Nepalis have suffered loss of lives and property because of the climate crisis. Despite Nepal’s negligible contribution to the crisis, its people have been forced to bear a disproportionate burden,” he said. “Climate justice means recognizing this disproportionate burden and taking concrete measures to address it.”

Khanal said Nepal needs greater international cooperation in climate adaptation, technology transfer and institutional capacity building to minimize the damage caused by climate change. He also stressed that the Loss and Damage Fund, established to provide financial support to countries affected by climate-related disasters, should not become entangled in lengthy administrative procedures.