UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Calls for Urgent Climate Action During Nepal Visit

Kathmandu – United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged the international community to act swiftly to address climate change, during his visit to the Himalayan regions of Nepal on Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Guterres warned that glaciers in the Himalayas are melting at a “record level.” He emphasized the necessity to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and called for decisive climate action.

The UN chief is in Nepal for a four-day visit, which began on Sunday, at the invitation of Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. During his stay, he met with Dahal and other senior government officials, including the foreign and defense ministers. In a joint press conference with the Nepalese prime minister, Guterres appealed to developed countries to increase their support for Nepal and other nations severely affected by the impacts of climate change. He pointed out that Nepal faces multiple challenges, including the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and inflation, on top of the pressing threat posed by climate chaos.

This is Guterres’ first visit to Nepal since he assumed office on January 1, 2017. During his visit, he witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of climate change on the Himalayas. “Today (Monday) from the base of Mt. Everest, I saw for myself the terrible impact of the climate crisis on the Himalayas,” he said.