KATHMANDU, Oct 29: Nepali civil society organizations have called for climate compensation, accessible climate finance and greater accountability from major greenhouse gas emitters, urging the international community to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable communities, according to a press release.
The call was made at a pre-COP31 consultation held on October 27 under the theme “From the Himalayas to the Sea: Nepal’s Position at COP31 Demanding Climate Justice in the Context of the Bhotekoshi and Budhigandaki Disasters.”
Leading a collective civil society campaign for COP31, Arjun Bhattarai, president of the NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN), formally submitted a joint civil society position paper containing 25 demands and recommendations to Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, chief of the Climate Change Management Division at the Ministry of Forests and Environment and a senior joint secretary, the press release said.
Bhattarai stressed that Nepal’s priorities should include compensation and restorative justice for climate-related losses, meaningful civil society participation in climate negotiations, protection of civic space, and adequate climate finance that vulnerable communities can directly access. He also called for a firm commitment to limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Civil society calls for inclusive climate action ahead of COP29
He said devastating disasters, including those in Bhotekoshi and Budhigandaki, had further highlighted the severity of the climate crisis and the need for international accountability.
Prepared with the collective participation of more than 100 organizations, the position paper prioritizes climate justice, loss and damage, accessible climate finance, protection of mountains and the cryosphere, climate adaptation, just transition, and the rights and protection of vulnerable communities, according to the release.
The consultation provided an opportunity for civil society organizations to build a common position ahead of COP31, strengthen cooperation and unity, and coordinate collective advocacy for climate justice.
The event was organized in collaboration with civil society partners working on climate justice and environmental sustainability, including Clean Energy Nepal, Oxfam, KIRDARC, DCA, LI-BIRD, Prakriti Resource Centre, NWCF and FECOFUN.
Although Nepal contributes very little to global greenhouse gas emissions, it faces severe and unequal consequences of climate change, including floods, landslides, changes in mountain ecosystems and damage to livelihoods, the press release said.
The organizers said climate justice was not a matter of charity or philanthropy but a question of rights, responsibility and justice, including compensation. They called on major emitting countries and the international community to acknowledge their historical and current responsibilities, provide adequate and accessible climate finance, effectively address loss and damage, and remain accountable to affected communities.
They also emphasized that civil society and affected communities must have meaningful participation in climate negotiations and decision-making, with their voices, needs and priorities placed at the center of international climate decisions.
The 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) is scheduled to take place in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026.
