By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 13: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said on Saturday that Nepal was committed to the promotion of climate-resilient development moving towards a zero-carbon economy.
Addressing a ‘Climate Ambition Summit’ virtually today, the Prime Minister said that Nepal strongly supports the Paris Agreement and called to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
“The COVID-19 has forced us to postpone the COP-26; however, our quest for a cleaner and greener earth cannot be postponed,” the Premier said.
To promote green growth and green recovery, Nepal prioritises producing clean and renewable energy, promoting e-mobility, low carbon infrastructure and ecotourism, he said.
“We aim to extend protected area from 23 per cent to 30 per cent of the total areas of the country by 2030 and preserve biodiversity,” he said. “I urge the world to recognize the value of the Himalayas to maintain ecological balance in the oceans and control global warming.”
Nepal will submit enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by the end of this year and develop an ambitious Long-Term Strategy to reach net zero scenarios by 2050.
“We are developing a National Adaptation Plan and corresponding Climate Finance Strategy and Roadmap by 2021 and climate resilient adaptation plans in all 753 local levels by 2030.”
He said that easy and adequate access to climate finance would become critical for Nepal to implement these schemes.
Nepal is seeking hands of all countries to march ahead for a greener journey together, he said.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister also commended the leadership of Chile, France, Italy, UK and the United Nations for convening the summit.