Climate change should be at centre of national security: Gagan Thapa

KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress (NC) President Gagan Thapa has said that the issue of climate change should be seen in the context of national security and Nepal’s international diplomacy.

Speaking at the ‘Green Table’ program of the Nepali Congress on Friday, Thapa said that the devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi River have given a message to Nepal to think about climate change in a new way.

“Do we have the facility to talk about our national security in another room, climate change and diplomacy in another room?” he asked.

Thapa said that Nepal’s institutions should create a structure where they can work in a multidisciplinary manner. He said that climate change, national security and diplomacy should not be seen as separate issues.

Thapa stressed the need to pay attention to the continuity of the issues raised by Nepal in the past and the long-term national interest during the Prime Minister’s participation in the upcoming UN General Assembly and COP Summit.

Stating that the condition of the flood-affected families has made him very serious, Thapa said that attention should be paid to the long-term livelihood of the flood-affected areas along with rescue, relief and rehabilitation.

He said that many families in Rasuwa and other areas have lost their relatives, some families have not even been able to recover their dead bodies and a large number of people have become homeless.

Thapa stressed on the need to end the tendency of showing interest only for a few days after the disaster. According to him, there is a need to continue the work of fact-based and evidence-based study and long-term reconstruction along with immediate rescue and relief in the case of disasters.

He said the Nepali Congress would continue to support and cooperate with the government in the matters of disaster management and rehabilitation.

He also pledged to continue to raise the issues of disaster through the parliament in the coming days as an opposition party.