Mustang, September 15. A demand has been made to allocate 40 percent of climate finance to local governments to help reduce the impacts of climate change. Local government representatives made the demand at the Gharpajhong Climate Change Conference, which began in Jomsom, Mustang, stressing the need for adequate resources for municipalities directly dealing with climate-related risks.
Bhim Dhungana, president of the Nepal Municipal Association, said local governments are at the forefront of climate-related impacts but lack sufficient funds to implement effective programs. He called for a mechanism to ensure that 40 percent of climate finance reaches local governments.
The two-day conference was organized by Gharpajhong Rural Municipality at the covered hall in Jomsom. Representatives from 431 local governments and 41 District Coordination Committees from across the country are participating, with more than 2,000 people attending the event.
Inaugurating the conference, Agriculture, Forest and Environment Minister Gita Chaudhary said strong coordination among the federal, provincial and local governments is essential to address climate-related risks in the Himalayan region. She emphasized the need to strengthen early warning systems to reduce the risk of glacial lake outburst floods.
Minister Chaudhary said Nepal should strongly raise issues of climate justice and the concerns of Himalayan communities at international forums. She stressed that Nepal should not merely seek assistance but should assert its rights based on the losses and damage caused by climate change.
Participants at the conference said that although Nepal's contribution to global carbon emissions is negligible, the country has suffered significant human and economic losses due to climate change. They argued that climate finance from developed countries should be treated not as aid or charity but as a right and compensation for loss and damage.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah, in a message of best wishes to the conference, said reducing and managing the impacts of climate change is a shared responsibility of the international community. He pledged to draw global attention at the 81st United Nations General Assembly to the problems, losses and possible solutions related to climate change faced by Nepal.
Discussions at the conference focused on glacier melting, the risk of glacial lake outbursts, avalanches, drought, drinking water and irrigation crises, and the impacts of climate change on agriculture, livestock and tourism.
The event also featured local art, culture and traditional attire, along with a performance of the 12th-century Jarayo dance. Stalls showcasing local agricultural products from Mustang have also been set up to promote local production.
The conference aims to develop a common position on the role of local governments in reducing the impacts of climate change, necessary policies and resource management. Organizers said the event will conclude with the issuance of the “Gharpajhong Declaration on Climate Change, 2083.”
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