Int'l mountain meeting in Nepal
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E-mail Xinhua, April 6, 2012
With the participation of some 100 representatives of some 26 countries including nine ministers and other high ranking officials, lawmakers, experts, scientists and so on, the International Conference of Mountain Countries ( ICMC) kicked off in Kathmandu on Thursday.
Nepal has held one of the biggest conferences on raising the issue of Mountain Countries by brining together many countries and discussing the common agenda triggered by the current wave of "climate change."
While inaugurating the conference, Nepali President Ram Baran Yadav said that what experts call as "climate change" has been impacting more these days by brining floods, landslides, irregular rainfall pattern, melting glaciers and many other issues.
"We are in need to act promptly and together as well so that we will not face the severe impact of the climate change which is even more deadly," President Yadav said.
He added that the regional and international partners must work together to address the common issue and problems of the mountainous nations.
"You have challenges ahead of you and the larger delegates gathered here are taking the first step to tackle these challenges and I am sure that expertise will come up with a solution to address the problems," he added.
Minister for Environment Hem Raj Tated said the melting of snow and glaciers have adverse impact over billions of people living in upstream and downstream areas. "We need to act together and act differently," he said.
Talking to Xinhua, State Minister of Environment Durga Devi Mahato said that the conference has a very important value for the country like Nepal.
She added that this conference will come up with a common agenda to address the common problems of the mountain nations.
Sun Zhen, Deputy Counsel from the Department of Climate Change at the National Development and Reform Commission of China told Xinhua that the conference is very important as it is highlighting the issue of climate change.
"It is very important for policy making and for better understanding of the complicated issue that is common to various countries," Sun Zhen said.
He added that climate change triggers many problems like desertification, decrease in bio-diversity, poverty which are more seen in mountain areas.
"It is necessary to strengthen infrastructure and financial resources to address the climate change problems," he said.
Pertemba Sherpa, a mountaineer from Nepal said that it is indeed time to act for environmental conservation and tackle the issue of climate change in a collective manner.
Secretary at the Ministry of Environment Krishna Gyawali told Xinhua that the conference will come up with the "Kathmandu Call for Action on Mountains and Climate Change" which will be further presented in the Rio+20, due to be held in Brazil.
According to experts, mountainous Nepal emits only 0.025 percent of global greenhouse gas, among the lowest in the world, however, the irony is that it is ranked as the fourth most climate vulnerable country in the world.
The conference will conclude on April 6.
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