Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) was on an official visit to Nepal from 15th to 17th May 2025. He participated in the first edition of “Sagarmatha Sambaad”, hosted by the Government of Nepal in Kathmandu, Nepal.
- The “Sagarmatha Sambaad” is a global dialogue forum, established by the Government of Nepal, to emphasize the issues of global, regional and national significance.
- The theme of Sagarmatha Sambaad was “Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity”.
Highlights of the visit:
Participation in Sagarmatha Sambaad:
i.Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, represented India at the inaugural ceremony of the dialogue, reaffirming India’s commitment to regional efforts towards climate action and environmental conservation.
- Several foreign dignitaries, including Vice Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress Xiao Jie and COP29 President and Azerbaijan’s Ecology Minister Mukhtar Babayev were present at the event.
ii.During the meeting, he emphasized that the rapid melting of Himalayan glaciers serves as a critical indicator of climate change, calling for enhanced international cooperation to address its adverse impacts.
iii.He pointed out that although South Asia contributes only 4% to historical global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, it is home to nearly 25% of the world’s population, highlighting the disproportionate burden of climate change on developing countries.
5-point call for global action:
During the event, Union minister Bhupender Yadav, presented a comprehensive five-point call for global action aimed at safeguarding fragile mountain ecosystems.
- This initiative underscores India’s commitment to collaborative environmental stewardship and addresses the unique challenges faced by mountainous regions.
i.Enhanced Scientific Cooperation: To strengthen research collaboration, and monitor cryospheric changes, hydrological cycles, and biodiversity.
ii.Building Climate Resilience: To invest in climate adaptation measures, early warning systems for disasters like Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and climate-resilient infrastructure in mountain areas.
iii.Empowering Mountain Communities: To ensure that the welfare, needs and aspirations of local communities are at the heart of policymaking and their benefit from green livelihoods and sustainable tourism.
iv.Providing Green Finance: To make available adequate and predictable climate finance as per the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement for mountain nations to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies effectively.
v.Recognizing Mountain Perspectives: To ensure that the unique vulnerabilities and contributions of mountain ecosystems are suitably featured in global climate negotiations and sustainable development agendas.
Bilateral Engagements:
i.During the visit, he met Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakur, Minister of Forests and Environment, Nepal and reviewed the progress made in various bilateral and regional initiatives in the field of environment.
ii.He also met Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nepal to discuss strengthening India-Nepal cooperation in the field of environment.
iii.He also visited Adalat Bhawan and Shree Jestha Varna Mahavihar, a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in Lalitpur, Nepal
About Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC):
Union Minister – Bhupender Yadav (Constituency – Alwar, Rajasthan)
Minister of State (MoS) – Kirti Vardhan Singh (Constituency – Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, UP)
About Nepal:
Prime Minister (PM)- Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli
President – Ram Chandra Poudel
Capital- Kathmandu
Currency– Nepalese Rupee (NPR)
