Kathmandu: Dr. Madan Prasad Pariyar, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development of Nepal, attended the 30th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), being held in Belém, Brazil, from 10–21 November 2025. The Ministerial segment of COP30 officially opened on November 17, featuring statements by the Vice President of Brazil Geraldo Alckmin, the President of COP30 André Corrêa do Lago, Ministers, and senior UN officials.
In his address as the leader of the Nepali delegation to COP30, Minister Dr. Pariyar reaffirmed Nepal’s strong commitment to climate justice on November 17. Highlighting the major climate
challenges the country faces—ranging from retreating glaciers and severe drought to unseasonal floods and impacts on agriculture—the Minister briefed participants on Nepal’s ambitious NDC3.0, which charts a trajectory toward zero emissions by 2045. “As one of the world’s most nature-connected nations, our forest cover now exceeds 46 percent,” he stressed.
Urging developed countries to fulfill past commitments on climate finance, the Minister added that it is the duty of every country to submit ambitious NDCs, fulfill treaty obligations, and honor the ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate justice. He emphasized that all Parties, including emerging economies, must engage constructively to keep the 1.5-degree goal within reach.
Minister Pariyar also underlined the urgent need to integrate a dedicated mountain agenda into UNFCCC processes, referring to the Sagarmatha Sambaad held in Kathmandu in May this year. Prior to his statement, Dr. Pariyar interacted with stakeholders—both present in Belém and online—on progress made so far and the way forward. Participants were briefed on Nepal’s engagements in various agenda areas, including climate finance, adaptation, Loss and Damage, transparency, Global Stocktake, gender, and mountains.
According to the Embassy of Nepal, Brasília, Brazil, apart from his intervention at the plenary, Minister Dr. Pariyar has been participating in important side events and engaging at both bilateral and multilateral levels. Before his address, he attended an event organized by the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative aimed at achieving a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister outlined Nepal’s plans to scale up clean-energy practices, including the increasing adoption of EVs and electric ovens. He also joined the Ministerial Meeting of LDCs, which marked the handover of the presidency of the LDC Group on climate change. Speaking at the meeting, Minister Pariyar appreciated the contributions of Malawi as the outgoing Chair in advancing the Group’s priorities, while pledging Nepal’s solidarity and support to the incoming presidency of Timor-Leste.
Further more, Minister Dr. Pariyar joined ministers from member countries of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) to amplify collective efforts to protect climate and biodiversity by safeguarding big cats. As a founding member of IBCA, Nepal reiterated its firm commitment to advancing the Alliance’s goals. As part of his bilateral engagements, he met with Ibrahim Cheikh Diong, Executive Director of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage on November 18. The two sides exchanged views on opportunities for Nepal to access financing from the Loss and Damage Fund for suitable national projects.
On November 18, Nepal is hosting a side event entitled “Sagarmatha to Belém: Advancing Climate Action”, with the objective of reviewing progress made since the adoption of the
Sagarmatha Call for Action and developing strategies to advance the mountain agenda within the UNFCCC processes. Ministers and senior officials from mountainous countries, along with UN officials, will be attending the event. He is also scheduled to participate in the Ministerial event “Melting Point and the 1.5°C Goal: Global Impacts of Cryosphere Loss and Pathways to Return from Overshoot”, organized by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative.
The Minister arrived in Belém on November 15 and was received by the Ambassador of Nepal to Brazil, Nirmal Raj Kafle, along with high-ranking officials of the Government of
Nepal participating in COP30. He is scheduled to depart for Nepal on 19 November 2025.
