By Usman Khan
The agenda of the Conference of Parties (COP) negotiations this year fund and finance aimed at addressing unavoidable climate change catastrophes that developing countries are particularly vulnerable to a move designed to make polluters pay for the damage they caused. Much work still needs to be done in terms of mechanisms and criteria to regulate what qualifies as climate-induced disasters and how much compensation needs to be allotted for developing country like Nepal in south Asia.

However, limited growth and supporting loss and damage seem to be mutually exclusive. One needs to remember that current international finance flowing to the developing countries for adaptation is between five to 10 times less than what is required present forecasts decide they will need around $340 billion per year. Loss and damage will add further pressure to this demand for funding.

The recently United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP27, is the 27th United Nations Climate Change conference and has been held at Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt is an good sign for the governments to choose and accept trivial projects to balance emissions such as net zero in the near future.

For Nepal much of these discussions are also pertinent despite the fact that most of them are global in nature, but the rising cost of living, energy security, food security and a progressively degrading environment caused by landslides and floods are crucial for Nepal domestically to deal with it. Some of these glitches have been intensified by prosperity inequality within Nepal’s society. In Nepal too the rich are responsible for a large portion of national emissions. The government should tax them for the carbon dioxide they produce beyond average emitters. Individuals and companies who own fleets of gas-emissions should be charged and taxed for the greenhouse gases they emit.

However, limited growth and supporting loss and damage seem to be mutually exclusive. One needs to remember that current international finance flowing to the developing countries for adaptation is between five to 10 times less than what is required current projections determine. Therefore, they need funding form the developing countries in this regard.

It’s one part of the climate change negotiations at the COP 27 meeting. The other part is more quarrelsome. Therefore, a hard to drastic cuts in emission within a short period of time to attain the 1.5 degrees Celsius aim set by the Paris Agreement. The latest figures released at the summit show global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are soaring and likely to increase by 1 percent in 2022. Consequently, the general consensus seems to be that COP must admit that the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal is dead.

Dozer owners, in collaboration with the private sector, are altering our landscape in the name of land development for housing or connectivity through roads or sand and gravel mining. This destruction of natural habitats and water sources has often led to the drying of springs and subsequently landslides and debris flow, destroying farms and houses. They should be hold accountable for such loss and damage. As global negotiations stall over rich countries' reluctance to even listen to loss and damage arguments,

Nepal can't afford any more delays in pursuing climate justice and an action-oriented approach to addressing the climate crisis. Nepal can continue advocating for climate justice at global fora, but should also pursue it at home by making polluters in Nepal pay part of their profits as reparation for the damage they cause. Nepal has a unique chance to become a pioneer and a paradigm in this regard if Nepal take the necessary steps. With the news elections held here’s hoping that Nepal choose responsible and sensible candidates to make this an actuality.