Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal led Nepal’s four-member delegation at a high-level Pre-COP leaders event in Funafuti, Tuvalu, on October 6, 2026, advocating for robust international cooperation on climate change. The event, held from October 5 to 6, served as a preparatory meeting for the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), scheduled for November 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye.
Minister Khanal highlighted the shared climate risks confronting both Himalayan and Pacific island nations, calling for stronger collaboration on climate finance, adaptation strategies, and addressing loss and damage. He underscored the necessity for countries most vulnerable to climate change to effectively articulate their common concerns on international platforms. The Pre-COP agenda focused on critical issues such as limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, strengthening climate finance mechanisms, and protecting oceans. Tuvalu, a low-lying island nation with an average elevation of just two meters above sea level, faces extreme vulnerability to climate impacts.
Nepal’s Climate Action and Regional Context
Nepal has been an active participant in climate change management efforts since becoming a party to the UNFCCC in 1994. The country implemented the National Climate Change Policy, 2076 (2019), which integrates mitigation and adaptation strategies, sets targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes renewable energy. The Pre-COP events in Tuvalu and Nadi, Fiji, aim to elevate the Pacific region’s priorities in global climate negotiations. Australia, which secured the presidency for the COP31 talks at COP30, co-hosted the Pacific Pre-COP program in Nadi, Fiji, from October 5 to 8, 2026, and is a key supporter of the initiative.
The impacts of climate change are particularly severe in Nepal’s Madhesh Province, where drying water sources and the emergence of new diseases and pests have significantly affected agriculture and livestock. A recent study indicated that climate-induced disasters caused 90.89 percent of economic damage in the Terai region of Madhesh Province over the last five years. Nationwide, 65 percent of the population is grappling with drought, as water sources like hand pumps, wells, and tube wells continue to dry up due to changing climate patterns.
Upcoming Engagements and COP31 Outlook
Following the programs in Fiji and Tuvalu, Foreign Minister Khanal is scheduled to travel to Australia. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra on October 8, 2026. Khanal is also expected to interact with the Nepali diaspora in Australia before returning to Nepal on October 12, 2026 (Ashoj 26 BS).
The discussions at the Pre-COP are crucial for shaping the outcomes of the main COP31 conference in Türkiye. Countries are currently working to define new National Climate Commitments (NDCs) by 2025, which must align with the global goal of keeping the average temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius. A strong outcome on climate finance at COP31 is essential to empower countries to adopt ambitious climate commitments, improve climate finance, facilitate access to funds for vulnerable developing nations, and advance adaptation and emission reduction efforts.
While the general purpose and dates of the “Pre-COP leaders’ program” in Tuvalu are known, specific details and precise outcomes or declarations from the event are not yet widely reported. A declaration is anticipated from the broader Pacific Pre-COP in Fiji. The full list of leaders from outside the Pacific region who attended was limited, with some diplomats noting a perceived lack of attention from major polluting nations.
