KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' emphasized the urgent need for immediate action to mitigate the impact of climate change on mountain communities during an event titled ‘Mountains, Human and Climate Change: International Dialogue of Experts’ held in Kathmandu. Inaugurating the dialogue by symbolically watering a plant, Prime Minister Dahal aimed to draw attention to the pressing issue of climate change's effects on mountainous regions and advocate for actions grounded in mountain ecosystems.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Dahal stressed the importance of fostering an integrated mountain voice to address the mounting concerns surrounding climate change's impact on mountain communities and the essential ecological services they provide. He highlighted the necessity for collective efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change, underscoring the need for urgent action and collaboration.

The dialogue brought together representatives from 25 countries, including those from mountainous regions and small island nations, as well as members of the international community, development partners, international NGOs, the private sector, and civil society. Notable attendees included Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Bhutan’s Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Lyonpo Younten Phuntsho, and Bangladesh’s Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Saber Hussain Chaudhary.

Distinguished speakers, including President of the UN Assistant Agency for Scientific and Technical Advice on Climate Change (SABTA) Harry Bhireu and Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal, delivered speeches at the event. The dialogue provided a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing insights, and discussing strategies to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change in mountainous regions, emphasizing the importance of collective action and international cooperation in tackling this global issue.