Minister Sudi Vows Action on Climate Finance and Conservation

In today’s session of the National Assembly (NA), Minister for Forests and Environment Nawal Kishor Shah Sudi pledged decisive action to secure global climate finance for Nepal, emphasizing the urgent need to mitigate climate change impacts in the mountainous nation.

Minister Sudi underscored Nepal’s minimal role in global carbon emissions despite being highly vulnerable to climate change effects. He announced plans for a green tax on imports of petroleum products and coal starting the next fiscal year, aligning with Nepal’s international commitments to reduce carbon emissions.

Highlighting recent legislative updates, Minister Sudi briefed the NA on the second amendment to the Forest Regulations-2079 BS, aimed at streamlining forest management efforts. Currently, Nepal produces approximately 35 million cubic feet of timber domestically, with minimal timber imports.

Looking ahead, the Minister outlined forthcoming initiatives to promote greenery, afforestation, and sustainable plant production across federal, provincial, and local levels. However, he acknowledged insufficient budgetary allocations for the conservation of the Chure range ecosystem, stressing the need for increased funding and collaborative efforts.

In conclusion, Minister Sudi affirmed the government’s commitment to leading climate action efforts and called for unified global efforts to combat the impacts of climate change, a pressing global concern.