In an ongoing international mountain climate dialogue in Kathmandu, Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal spoke of the urgent need for a ‘unified mountain voice’ to confront the formidable challenges of climate change impacting the Himalayan region. This commendable call for solidarity among mountain nations highlights an even greater imperative: the necessity for mountain countries like Nepal to redefine their narrative and strategic emphasis within the global climate discourses.
A notable example is Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados. Under her leadership, the Bridgetown Initiative has not only pushed global financial systems to reconsider their financing approaches but has also placed a small island nation at the forefront of the global climate arena. Mottely’s proactive initiative offers valuable lessons for Nepal and other mountainous countries demonstrating the power of assertive advocacy in tailoring climate finances and cooperation to the unique challenges of the mountain region affected by issues such as glacial lake outbursts, climate migration, biodiversity conservation in high-altitude ecosystems, and the promotion of sustainable agricultural and energy practices in these mountain terrains that are climatically, geographically and financially challenging. You explore additional notes on the Bridgetown Initiative here.
Mia Mottley has been a forceful advocate for reshaping global economic governance, particularly emphasizing the urgent need for faster and sustained climate and development financing for nations struggling with spiraling debt and disaster crises. Her Initiative has sparked a pivotal shift, highlighting the critical financial constraints faced by developing nations that must tackle climate challenges alongside broader socio-economic objectives. This advocacy has prompted the global financial system and institutions like the World Bank and IMF to reconsider their international financing architecture and contemplating solutions. It advocates for the adoption of longer-term financing options and calls for the global financial community to move toward more equitable terms for climate-vulnerable nations.
The Oddity of Climate Narrative
Despite their minimal contributions to global warming, mountainous countries like Nepal and Bhutan face severe climate impacts. Nepal aims to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 — which is five years ahead of the global 2050 target, and Bhutan is the first carbon-negative country, offsetting four times more carbon than it emits. These efforts position them as proactive participants in global climate actions. However, this commendable goal might not align perfectly with the immediate needs or broader strategic interests of these mountain countries. Unlike many nations where industrial emissions are a major concern, their collective carbon footprint is minimal. In contrast, major emitters like China, the US, and India contribute significantly more, with China alone responsible for approximately one-third of global emissions.
Climate change is a global issue that necessitates collective global action. While countries like Nepal or Bhutan strive for ambitious net-zero targets, these symbolic efforts do little to shift the broader emission equations. However, this isn’t to say that such goals are misguided. Instead, it highlights the need for these nations to prioritize interventions that can have a substantial impact. Given their unique challenges — melting glaciers, increasing floods, and the emergence of climate migrants, alongside other stresses on agriculture and socio-economic structures — the focus should be more on enhancing climate resilience. These countries must prepare for the direct impacts of climate change, addressing not just the emissions numbers but the real-world consequences that threaten the daily lives and futures of their populations.
The Art of Storytelling and Immersion
Mottley’s use of impactful storytelling and strategic diplomacy demonstrates the transformative power of narrative in global climate discussions. Himalayan nations should adopt this approach, focusing on enhancing climate resilience by emphasizing their immediate, local realities instead of solely global targets.
Globally, the urgency for climate action is recognized, but financial mechanisms remain inadequate, particularly for the Global South. In 2023, the $1.7 trillion invested in clean energy was significantly below the required $8 trillion, a figure expected to increase to $10 trillion by 2030. Additionally, less than 3% of this funding reached the least developed countries (LDCs), and only 15% went to emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs), excluding China. This disparity reflects a systemic issue: the nations contributing the least to climate change suffer the most from its impacts.
The Bridgetown Initiative’s success in advocating for equitable, long-term financing underscores the influence that small nations can exert by highlighting their unique challenges and advocating for systemic changes in global finance flows. The Himalayan region can leverage this approach by advocating for a climate narrative specifically designed to address its unique needs and focus on the risks associated with its mountainous environments and ecosystems. The focus should be on addressing the pressing needs of their populations and aligning with their socio-economic realities, ensuring that their unique challenges are addressed equitably and their voices resonate on the global stage. First, these mountain nations can harness the power of strategic international advocacy by using global forums not just to express its vulnerabilities but to actively advocate for reforms in global climate finance. These reforms should recognize and prioritize the needs of mountainous and landlocked countries, ensuring that financial mechanisms are tailored to their unique circumstances. Furthermore, Nepal has the opportunity to lead a coalition of mountainous nations, much like the Bridgetown Initiative, to advocate for climate resilience funding and policies specifically designed for high-altitude environments. This unified regional voice would be a powerful force in global discussions, highlighting the shared challenges and common goals of mountainous regions around the world.
Nepal has been employing various storytelling methods to convey its acute vulnerability to climate change. The 2009 Cabinet meeting on Kalapatthar, orchestrated by then-Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, showcased to the world the looming threat of global warming against the backdrop of Mount Everest. It was a strategic, poignant reminder to the world, conducted at one of Earth’s highest altitudes to underscore the urgency.
More recently, the visit by the UN Secretary-General to Annapurna Base Camp, at the invitation of Prime Minister Dahal, showcased the rapid environmental degradation in the Himalayas. Witnessing the swift melting of glaciers, the Secretary-General called for immediate, robust action to prevent devastating floods, landslides, and disruptions affecting local communities. These events serve as compelling, dire reminders that global cooperation is imperative to support Nepal and similar mountain region against the ravages of climate change.
Storytelling Alone is not Enough
Unfortunately, however newsworthy these efforts may be in global headlines, they do not guarantee a focused agenda in global forums. Real change requires sustained engagement, a unified mountain voices and the local initiatives with focused strategies and solutions — a structured program and solutions ready for financing and scaling. This can include everything from prioritizing infrastructure to withstand glacial lake outbursts, to building institutional or human capabilities, to enhancing community resilience against natural disasters prevalent in mountainous terrains.
As we confront the stark realities of climate change, the path forward for Nepal and other mountainous and remote nation is unmistakable. It’s time to shift from merely sharing narratives to executing tangible solutions that address our unique challenges. It’s up to them who should offer solutions, beyond seeking attentions for the sake of attentions. Even though global cooperation is expected, the reality is that countries must address their own urgent challenges and actively advocate for themselves. Unlike widespread commitments to curb carbon emissions, adaptation efforts are often localized and remain largely isolated, compelling nations to navigate these complex issues largely on their own.
Bibek Raj Kandel is an energy policy and international development expert, and a Senior Fellow at Nepal Economic Forum. He has worked extensively, both in Nepal and internationally, providing advisory services to governments, industries, and international agencies in the energy and climate space. His experience includes working across diverse regions including South Asia, Asia Pacific, and Sub-Saharan Africa. He holds an MSc in Energy Management from the University of Twente, in the Netherlands and an MPA from Harvard University.
