On behalf of the Government of Nepal, the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in New York deposited the instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change with the Secretary-General of the United Nations today.

Following the decision of the Legislature-Parliament of Nepal on 04 October 2016, the instrument of ratification was transmitted to the Permanent Mission by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier today together with the registration of Nepal’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn by the Ministry of Population and Environment.

The instrument of ratification has been signed by the Honorable Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister for Foreign Affairs.

It may be noted that the deposition of the instruments of ratification by Nepal and other countries in the course of today fulfilled the requirement (of deposition of instruments of ratification by at least 55 Parties to the Convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 percent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions) necessary for the Paris Agreement to come into force. The Agreement is now set to be in force on the thirtieth day, on 04 November 2016. As of today, the Agreement has been ratified by 72 States accounting for 56.75 per cent of the global GHG emissions.

Nepal had reiterated its commitment to contributing to the global collaboration, and had also shared its intention to submit the instrument of ratification at the earliest during the Signature Ceremony of the Paris Agreement on 22 April 2016 in New York.

Nepal highlights that the Paris Agreement is a living instrument meant for serious implementation, in tandem with 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and hopes that its sincere implementation would help us adapt and mitigate the recurring problems such as landslides, floods, melting of glaciers, erratic and extreme weather patterns, and loss of biodiversity directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people.

Nepal believes that the collective strength of global efforts, understanding, cooperation, partnership and support should run foremost in combating the challenges posed by Climate Change.

In view of the fact that Climate Change vulnerability of Nepal as LDC, LLDC and mountainous country is very high and our pathway for sustainable development is both difficult and costly, Nepal maintains that an easy, transparent and direct access to climate finance and technology should be ensured for the countries like Nepal, in addition to the development cooperation and support, as provisioned in the Paris Agreement and other instruments.