Climate justice issue needs to be raised in international forums: President

KATHMANDU: President Ram Chandra Paudel has said that the issue of climate justice should be raised in every international forum, highlighting that countries like Nepal have no role in climate change.

The Head of State said this while inaugurating the 11 Nepal Geological Congress organised by the Nepal Geological Society here today. He said the topic of climate change should be taken to the international community.

According to the President, it is necessary to raise the issue of climate justice vociferously in the context of developing and least developed countries like Nepal that have no role at all in bringing about climate change also being affected due to the rampant industrialization, exploitation of fossil fuels and carbon emission by the developed world.

Stating that the importance of the Congress has been enhanced by burning issues like the urgent need of minimising the impact of climate change and natural disasters and their minimisation, President Paudel stressed on cooperation and collaboration for addressing these types of issues directly concerned with the life of people.

Stating that there has been an unusual increase in global warming, he expressed concern over rapid melting of snow turning most of the mountains bare and the huge loss of life and property from excessive rainfall, landslide and soil erosion every year since the last three decades.

The President further said earthquakes occurring in mountain areas time and again has become a problem in development construction of Nepal, expressing that though some natural disaster could be predicted, the problem has surfaced due to inability to invent a mechanism that could predict earthquakes.

He expressed the belief that there would be discussion about the status of Nepal’s mines and mineral products, the state of exploration, climate change and its impact and use of geology in physical infrastructure development.

President Paudel shared that the Congress would be useful to attract investors for exploration, utilisation and market management of natural resources.  “The congress organised on the eve of one decade of the Gorkha earthquake, has special importance. I wish for the success of this congress,” he mentioned.