President-Designate for COP26 Alok Sharma meets Prez Bhandari

Kathmandu, 18 February (2021) - The presidency of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) paid a courtesy call on the President Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari at the Office of the President this afternoon.

President-Designate for COP26 Alok Sharma MP, briefing the President about the priorities of the conference, welcomed Nepal’s constructive participation, given the country’s longstanding contribution to climate action. The President, while appreciating the British initiative to hold the COP26, stated that Nepal attaches high importance to the climate change agenda and to the role women and youth can play for mitigation and adaption at the grass-root level. She viewed that collaborations at the international level would contribute to addressing the adverse impacts, particularly in climate vulnerable countries like Nepal.

Earlier today, the visiting delegation met with the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali at the latter’s office and discussed matters of mutual interests. The COP26 President, while updating the Foreign Minister on the ongoing preparation, counted on Nepal’s continued partnership in the run up to the conference and its substantive participation in thematic deliberations.

Assuring the British side of Nepal’s participation reflecting the country’s strong commitment to climate change agenda, Minister Gyawali underscored the need of garnering a higher level of political will for timely translation of commitments into action. Matters also figured during the meeting include renewable energy, mountain agenda, e-mobility, low carbon infrastructure and Sagarmatha Sambaad.

The COP26 President also met with the Hon. Minister for Forest and Environment Mr. Prem Bahadur Ale later today, during which the two sides discussed issues of Nepal-UK cooperation in such fields as environment protection, biodiversity and nature conservation. They also exchanged views on the ambitions shared by both sides during the Climate Ambition Summit held in last December as well as on the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).