Although United Nations Conference on Climate Change UNFCCC is an internationally important conference which determine the global sets agenda and future course, the full participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs side by side with Ministry of Population and Environment is prerequisite. Since Nepal is a vulnerable country in terms of climate change and Nepal’s snow is melting fast and crating regional problems, climate change issue is very much diplomatic and political as well. Along with the discussions on environmental and development issue, UNFCC also involves diplomatic and skillful negotiations.

Since Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expert hands with it dealing with international issue and negotiations, the representative of the Ministry needs to be integral party. Whether it is ignorance and intentional, Nepalese delegation took part in the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) without any representative in the team. Of course, Ministry of Environment is a focal ministry. Globally, there is tendency to send high level representation from Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make a deal in favor of particular country’s interest.

This has not been happening here. Nepal has been sending a jumbo delegations for the UNFCCC conference and made a number of commitments and signed a number of agreements, it rarely informs Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As there is growing gap in coordination and communication, the cabinet has shown the concern over it. This is a good signs. Of course, climate change is a technical issue with Ministry of Population and Environment needs to be in a driving seat. However, there should have formed mechanism to involve Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries deciding and setting Nepal’s agenda. COP 23 should be lesion learning for Nepal.