A consultation workshop was organized in Kathmandu to discuss the scenarios and outcomes of the upcoming UN conference on climate Change. Twentieth session of the Conference of Parties (COP20) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is being organized in Peru, Lima from 1-12 December 2014.

Consultation program was organized by Clean Energy Nepal (CEN) and Oxfam Nepal to inform about Nepal’s preparation and expectations from the upcoming meeting. Government officials, experts, academician, media and civil society representatives, participated in the consultation.

At a time when the UN scientific body called Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has given its clear scientific evidence on climate change and its impacts, Lima conference is considered to be a very crucial meeting in preparation for COP21. UNFCCC is expected to reach a legally binding global deal on climate change in 2015 at COP21 to be held in Paris, France.

Speaking at the program, Dr. Krishna Chandra Poudel, Secretary of MoSTE said “Nepal, as the chair of the LDC Group is preparing itself to be a crucial player at the COP. We will strongly demand that the world’s average temperature rise is maintained below 1.5 degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.” He further added “Mountains are dear to our heart hence we will raise this issue to be considered under the UNFCCC climate regime.”

Raju Pandit Chhetri, Advisor to Clean Energy Nepal, said “Climate negotiations has moved beyond an environmental issue and considered a political and economic agenda. Hence, Nepal should prepare to deal it accordingly focusing on the interests of the most vulnerable and least developed countries.” He stressed, “Nepal should negotiate seeking financial and technological assistance to the Least Developed Countries in order to address the impacts of climate change and build resilience.”

Manjeet Dhakal from Clean Energy Nepal on his presentation about ‘Lima in Focus’ said “Lima cannot be a business-as-usual COP that keeps pushing decisions to the next meeting.

Failing to address pertinent issues in Lima will derail the achievements to be agreed in Paris next year. Lima outcomes should prove a major milestone in addressing climate change – in terms of mitigation, adaptation and loss & damage”.