President appeals to global community to contribute for mitigating climate change impacts

KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel has appealed to the global community to secure the future of the upcoming generation by mitigating negative impacts of climate change.

At a programme organised at the President’s Office on the occasion of the World Environment Day today, President Paudel said rapid changes in glaciers and glacial lakes due to growing impacts of global warming has added challenges to the lives and livelihoods with flash floods and landslides in the downstream areas.

“Nepal and other countries of the world are struggling with the crisis caused by climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity. These crises cannot be solved by someone’s efforts, everyone should be united”, the President said.

He noted that our common challenges and opportunities have been incorporated in the theme of the World Environment Day ‘ Our Land, Our Future: Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resistance’.

Recalling the views expressed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reduce Nepal’s mountain crisis, high risk of climate change and climate-related problems in Nepal and other mountainous countries, President Paudel expressed concern over the negligible contribution to greenhouse gas emissions in Nepal.

He stressed the need for the world community to come together to solve the problems arising out of climate change and reduce its impact.

Stating that Nepal has been carrying out various works at the national level to mitigate the impacts of climate change and this issue has also been addressed in the policies and programs of the government, President Paudel expressed the belief that the President Climate Change Management Programme would help increase adaptive capacity by reducing the negative impacts of climate change.

President Paudel had opened the plantation by planting a sapling of ‘palas’ on the President building premises.

Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Chief Justice Bishwombhar Prasad Shrestha, Speaker Devraj Ghimire and National Assembly Chair Narayan Dahal also planted saplings.

Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal, Chief of Army Staff Prabhuram Sharma, chiefs of security agencies, ambassadors of different countries and heads of donor agencies were present on the occasion.