KIRDARC Nepal Co-organises “Living Sagarmatha” Panel Discussion at COP31

The Living Sagarmatha panel discussion at the Nepal Pavilion, COP31, Antalya, Türkiye.

KIRDARC Nepal, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment (MoAFE), Government of Nepal, hosted a panel discussion titled “Living Sagarmatha: Mobilising Global Solidarity and Climate Finance for Mountain Resilience” at the Nepal Pavilion, COP31, in Antalya, Türkiye, on 12 November 2026.

The session brought together government leaders, United Nations and humanitarian representatives, and climate experts. They discussed how global solidarity and climate finance can better support mountain communities facing the growing impacts of climate change.

Programme

Deepa Oli, Under Secretary, MoAFE, opened the session with welcome remarks. Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Joint Secretary and Chief of the Climate Change Management Division, MoAFE, then presented Living Sagarmatha: Nepal Mountain Resilience Strategy (2026–2035).

The Living Sagarmatha – Nepal Mountain Resilience Strategy (2026–2035) presentation

Leadership and Panel Discussion

The session was chaired by Hon’ble Shisir Khanal, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal, and Hon’ble Gita Chaudhary, Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Government of Nepal, delivered the keynote remarks. The panel brought together Mr. Harjeet Singh, Strategy Advisor and Asia Lead, Fill The Fund campaign on Loss and Damage finance; Dr. Pam Pearson, Director, International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI); Mr. Jagan Chapagain, Secretary General, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); and Ms. Lila Pieters Yahia, UN Resident Coordinator for Nepal. Drawing on their experience in climate finance, cryosphere science, humanitarian response and development cooperation, the panelists discussed how global solidarity and climate finance can be mobilised to strengthen the resilience of mountain communities. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Deepa Oli, Under Secretary, MoAFE, Government of Nepal, and Ms. Geeta Pandey, Director, Policy Advocacy and Research, KIRDARC Nepal.