'Mountain, island states facing common climate challenge'

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, Oct. 7: Speaking at a high-level ‘Pre-COP Leaders’ Event’ held in Funafuti in Tuvalu on Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Shisir Khanal highlighted the common challenges and priorities faced by mountainous and small island developing states as a result of climate change.

He led the Nepali delegation to the event organised ahead of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Participating in various formal sessions of the event, he highlighted the need to effectively address the shared concerns of countries affected by the adverse impacts of climate change on international platforms, informed FM Khanal's Secretariat in a statement on Tuesday. 

During a meeting with Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo, FM Khanal noted the similarities between the risks and challenges faced by the Himalayan region and small island states in the Pacific due to climate change, and stressed the need to further strengthen cooperation between the two sides on climate-related issues. Likewise, he met Tongan Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua during a field visit to Tuvalu’s Coastal Adaptation Project in Funafuti.