Preparing better for future COPs

Institutional leadership is essential in how a country deals with a particular problem.

Autumn in Kathmandu this year was unseasonably warm; the response to how the government fared at the COP 27 summit, on the other hand, has been quite frosty. Following the return of the Nepali delegation from Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, the Ministry of Forest and Environment organised a review meeting to reflect on the progress made at the summit. Unfortunately, things did not pan out the way they had hoped. The minister, who had led the delegation, walked out of the meeting , blaming the bureaucratic team for failing to highlight her role and leadership at the summit. A journalist, who had also attended the summit, later reported that while COP 27 provided us with an opportunity to draw the world’s attention to losses wrought by climate change, the country’s delegation was ill-prepared and missed the chance to do so meaningfully. These events warrant some much needed soul-searching to ensure Nepal’s well prepared participation in future summits.