Closing of the forty-first session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 41)

Statement by Nepal on behalf of the Least Developed Countries Group

Lima, Peru

Mr. Chair and distinguished delegates, Nepal has the honour to speak on behalf of the LDC Group.

Chair, for the LDC Group, adaptation is of the utmost priority. Here in Lima, we made some progress in our process for National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). We all recognised that the process to formulate and implement NAPs is fundamental to reducing vulnerability to climate change, and have agreed that the National Adaptation Plan is an important vehicle in this process.

We look forward to further enhancing the ways to communicate and report adaptation needs to the Convention process. We also call for adequate support for the formulation and implementation of NAPs.

Chair, the LDC Group welcomes the Second Review of the Adaptation Fund (AF). We are deeply concerned about the sustainability of the AF. The decreasing prices of Certified Emissions Reductions have led to insufficient and unreliable funding for the AF, threatening the capacity of the fund to continue its operation.

As the AF is a specific funding source for adaptation with a direct access modality, we believe it needs to have adequate funding. We call on developed country Parties to continue making financial contributions to the AF as it remains to be unpredictable.

We also call on developed country Parties and other countries in a position to do so to continue contributing to the LDCF so that our NAPAs are fully implemented. The LDCF should also continue its support in implementing the remaining elements of the LDC Work Programme.

Chair, on matters related to Loss and Damage, the group appreciates the work of the Interim Executive Committee. With regards to the composition of the Executive Committee, the group expresses its disappointment on the views of some of the developed countries, who want to include experts from outside of the Convention. The LDC Group had proposed a composition similar to the Adaptation committee, which is working effectively. We strongly proposed special representation from LDCs and SIDS.

The LDC Group remains ready to be engaged and to work with our partners in order to finalize the composition and governance of the ExCom. The ExCom must be established here in Lima and it must start implementing its functions from early next year.

Chair, on the revision of the Modalities and Procedures of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), we regret not achieving substantial progress here in Lima despite all the efforts deployed by your co-facilitators and some Parties. We hope we will work in a better spirit at our next session in order to complete the mandate on this issue.

Chair, on Capacity building, we would like to reiterate the need for a dedicated institution on coordinating work related to capacity building under the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol. The LDC Group is disappointed that after about three years, we are stuck on reaching a conclusion especially as related to a body to coordinate this issue.

Chair, the LDC Group welcomes, with much appreciation, the decision to advance gender balance and achieving gender responsive climate policy. We are confident that the SBI conclusion contributes to promoting greater gender balance in our work, as well as promotion of gender responsive climate policies.

Chair, now allow me to speak in my national capacity, as Nepal.

Chair, mountains cover a significant area of the earth’s surface. They are the source of freshwater, repository of biological and cultural diversity, and home to billions of people. Moreover, mountain tourism provides important economic opportunities as a source of livelihood.

The mountain ecosystems and communities of the Himalayas are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

We are experiencing erratic monsoon patterns; heavy rainfall in a limited period has increased the incidence of flash floods and landslides. As a result, Nepal has lost some key infrastructure such as hydropower stations, roads, bridges, and settlements. The loss of human life in the last summer alone exceeded 500, causing tremendous loss and damage.

The 5th Assessment Report of the IPCC recognizes the data gaps in the Himalayan Region. Realizing the significant contribution of mountains to the wellbeing of people living both upland and lowland, a specific mountain related climate program is inevitable.

Chair, we believe in scientific evidence and ground realities. Both of these tell us that mountains require the international community’s special and urgent attention.

Nepal, therefore, calls upon all Parties to support the development and implementation of a special Work Program on Mountains under Article 4.8 of the Convention to reduce climate change related vulnerabilities and associated loss and damage.

We believe such a work program will help us enhance our knowledge in better understanding mountain ecosystems and enable us to build resilience and adapt to the changing climate.

Thank you Chair.