Cairo: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, has raised concern over climate change consequences in Nepal, demanding climate justice. In his address to a session on ‘Cities and Climate Crisis’ held on Tuesday during the 12th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo, Egypt, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the vulnerability of Nepal to climate change. He remarked, “For Nepal, the climate crisis is becoming our day-to-day reality. We are one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, and we can already see its devastating impacts on lives, livelihood, and infrastructure, both in rural and urban areas.”
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the extreme impact of climate change on Nepal’s snow-capped mountains, as underscored by the UN Secretary General during his 2023 visit to Nepal. He further elaborated on the challenges Nepal faces in meeting the 1.5-degree target and the consequences of global warming on th
e Himalayas. The Deputy Prime Minister cited the unprecedented rainfall in September, which resulted in the highest-ever recorded rainfall in the Kathmandu Valley, as a recent example of the climate crisis affecting the country.
The Deputy Prime Minister reported that a single event led to the loss of 250 lives, affected over 500,000 households, and displaced about 11,000 people, thereby exacerbating housing needs. He warned of increased extreme climatic events such as cloud bursts, severe floods, drought, and high temperatures, which pose a significant threat to the nation. He mentioned that Nepal is rapidly urbanizing, with over half of the population residing in urban and peri-urban areas, and acknowledged the critical capacity gaps in planning and adaptation at various levels.
During the session, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized Nepal’s priority to strengthen multi-level governance for sustainable development and the integration of climate responsiveness in development decisions. He noted that adapt
ation is a major priority for Nepal to reduce vulnerability urgently. “We have reviewed our urban policy and development strategies aligned in the federal context and are climate responsive,” he stated. He also mentioned that Nepal has approved the National Adaptation Plan, which aims to implement 64 programs by 2050, requiring USD 47.4 billion, while the government can only contribute USD 1.5 billion.
The Deputy Prime Minister concluded by highlighting Nepal’s need for global support and easy access to innovative adaptation finance arrangements to tackle climate challenges. He asserted that the session was critical for demanding climate justice and seeking technical collaboration and assistance for city-level climate adaptation to achieve inclusive and resilient urbanization.