Though as the host country Nepal had invited 55 countries only 26 have confirmed participation. Many European countries expressed their inability to take part in the conference citing Easter season. [break]
On Wednesday Environment experts and parliamentarians from the south Asian countries gathered in the capital to discuss the issues to be raised during the conference.
Speaking at the gathering, Krishna Gyawali, secretary at ministry of environment, said the program would aim to bring mountain countries and stakeholders to a common platform to deliberate on mountain issues and to understand the needs and concerns of the mountain regions.
“The problems faced by mountain countries due to climate change have not been well recognized by the developed nations depriving them of due support. Our goal is to bring the problems to the fore,” he said. According to Gyawali, Nepal will focus basically on two things: Nepal´s access to financial resources and technological adaptation in order to fight climate change issues.
Gyawali said that ministers of 10 countries have already arrived in Nepal for Thursday´s conference. Environment and forest ministers of Bhutan, Qatar, Tanzania, Peru, Chili, Georgia, Tajikistan, Yaman and Mongolia are already in the country.
“Though we had sent invitations to representatives of 55 countries, only 26 of them have finally arrived. Many of them citied Easter as an excuse,” he said.
A report on climate change prepared by a network of NGOs working in the environment sector in South Asia is a major attraction in the conference.
“The study will throw light on various effects of climate change in the South Asian region and provide recommendations for future,” Gyanwali said.
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