NEPAL ASSOCIATES WITH COPENHAGEN ACCORDS

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000104 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV KGHG KSCA NP SUBJECT: NEPAL ASSOCIATES WITH COPENHAGEN ACCORDS REF: A. KATHMANDU 74 ¶B. KATHMANDU 45 ¶1. (SBU) Following a "lively" internal debate, on February 1 the Government of Nepal (GON) announced that it had sent notification to the Secretariat of the Convention on Climate Change confirming Nepal's association with the Copenhagen Accord (copy of letter sent to SCA/INS). According to the Ministry of Environment, the Secretariat was informed of Nepal's position and understanding of the Accord prior to the January 31 deadline. ¶2. (SBU) In the association letter, the GON emphasized Nepal's vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change, particularly issues surrounding accelerated glacial melt and resulting impacts on hydropower production and economic development (ref A). The GON reiterated its hope that the Copenhagen Accord will: limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; develop and disseminate appropriate technologies; and build the capacity of developing nations to reduce the adverse effects of climate change. ¶3. (SBU) National and international NGOs were substantially involved in lobbying the Ministry of Environment and Cabinet to support the Copenhagen Accord, according to Purushottam Ghimire, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Environment. Ugan Manandhar, a climate change expert at the World Wildlife Fund's Nepal office, said both WWF and the NGO community writ large were pleased with Nepal's decision to associate with the Copenhagen Accords. CAMP