Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Meets UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Discusses Nepal-UN Cooperation and Climate Action

New York, Sept. 22, 2024 — Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, held a key meeting today with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN headquarters, discussing various aspects of Nepal-UN cooperation. The meeting touched on a wide range of critical issues, including climate change, transitional justice, and Nepal’s role in UN peacekeeping missions.

Welcoming Prime Minister Oli, Secretary-General Guterres commended Nepal’s unwavering commitment to the principles of the UN Charter. He emphasized the priority the UN places on addressing climate change, particularly the drastic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the need to support vulnerable countries like Nepal, which face disproportionate impacts due to their mountain ecosystems. Guterres stressed the importance of sufficient climate financing for developing countries, especially Least Developed Countries (LDCs), to aid in both mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Secretary-General Guterres also called for comprehensive reforms in the international financial system to ensure developing nations receive enhanced and simplified access to development financing.

Nepal’s Progress on Transitional Justice and Climate Initiatives

Prime Minister Oli expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and praised the Secretary-General for his recent visit to Nepal, during which he addressed Nepal’s Parliament. Oli proudly informed Guterres of Nepal’s new legislation on transitional justice, crafted with a victim-centric approach, guidance from the Supreme Court, and adherence to international norms. He assured the UN of Nepal’s commitment to fully implementing the act to resolve transitional justice issues.

Highlighting the devastating impact of climate change on Nepal, the Prime Minister referred to the recent permafrost thaw in Thame as a pressing example. He thanked Guterres for advocating on Nepal’s behalf regarding climate vulnerabilities and invited the Secretary-General to attend Nepal’s upcoming Sagarmatha Sambad, an international dialogue on mountain ecosystems and climate change.

Oli also underscored Nepal’s focus on economic transformation, guided by the vision of “Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali.” He emphasized Nepal’s commitment to graduating from the LDC category by 2026 and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Prime Minister urged the Secretary-General to call on development partners and the international community to enhance financial support to aid Nepal’s progress toward these goals.

Recognition of Nepal’s Role in Peacekeeping and Call for UN Leadership Roles

Prime Minister Oli also highlighted the vital role Nepal has played in UN peacekeeping operations, as one of the largest contributors of troops and police to UN missions. He called on Guterres to consider providing high-level posts for Nepal both at the UN headquarters and in the field, recognizing Nepal’s long-standing contribution to global peace and security.

In response, Secretary-General Guterres thanked the government and people of Nepal for making his recent visit a memorable one. He expressed his deep concern over the accelerated melting of glaciers and the damage it causes and assured Prime Minister Oli of his commitment to mobilizing resources for the Loss and Damage Fund.

Addressing the Parliamentary Forum on Climate Finance

Earlier, Prime Minister Oli delivered a keynote address at the “Parliamentary Forum on Financing the Future: Aligning Finance with the Promise of the Paris Agreement.” In his remarks, he emphasized the urgency of phasing out fossil fuels to prevent catastrophic climate disasters, which are becoming increasingly severe. He called for greater investment in renewable energy technologies and a just transition to green energy, while advocating for improved access to climate funds for vulnerable nations, particularly LDCs. The forum was organized by Parliamentarians for a Fossil Free Future and the Rainforest Action Network.

Other High-Level Meetings and Events

In addition to his meeting with Guterres, Prime Minister Oli met with the UN High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, H.E. Rabab Fatima. They discussed Nepal’s LDC graduation and the upcoming Third International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3). The meeting reinforced the partnership between Nepal and the UN in areas of development and international cooperation.

Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal also participated as a panelist in a side event titled “LDCs in the International Development Financing: What Changes can be Expected from the Fourth United Nations Conference on Financing for Development.” Lamsal emphasized the need for vulnerability assessments and capacity building for LDCs in the allocation of concessional financial resources to enable them to better access and utilize funding.

The day concluded with a welcome dinner hosted by Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, H.E. Lok Bahadur Thapa, in honor of Prime Minister Oli and his delegation as they prepare for their participation in the 79th United Nations General Assembly.