GGGI Nepal Partnership: Talks at COP31 Target Climate Finance and Green Growth

On the sidelines of the ongoing COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, Nepal's Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Gita Chaudhary held a bilateral discussion with Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Executive Director Sang-Hyup Kim. The high-level dialogue reviewed the evolving GGGI Nepal cooperation, centring on ways to expand collaboration in climate finance and green development to assist climate-vulnerable communities and foster sustainable growth.

Nepal and GGGI agreed to expand cooperation on climate finance and green development at COP31.

The bilateral session in Antalya focused on Nepal's key development priorities and mapped out potential channels for future institutional collaboration. During the talks, Minister Chaudhary recognised the ongoing assistance provided by the institute across several crucial environmental sectors within the country. These include initiatives in climate-friendly agriculture, clean transportation networks, green finance mechanisms, and ecosystem restoration programs.

Strengthening the GGGI Nepal Partnership for Vulnerable Sectors

Stressing the importance of formalising long-term engagement, Chaudhary called for making the bilateral relationship more strategic and institutional. She pointed out that COP31 offers a vital platform for mountainous and climate-vulnerable nations to secure adequate access to international climate finance and sustainable investment. Highlighting the tangible contributions of existing green agricultural projects toward rural livelihoods and job creation, she urged expanded collaboration to safeguard local cultivators against worsening climate shocks.

The minister further underscored the necessity of advancing climate-resilient farming practices across the nation. She called for targeted interventions to upgrade weather monitoring systems and build sustainable agricultural value chains, ensuring local farmers possess the tools and capacity required to adapt to changing conditions. In response, GGGI Executive Director Sang-Hyup Kim conveyed the organisation's readiness and willingness to expand cooperation with Nepal in addressing these critical agricultural and environmental priorities.

Why it matters

Mountainous and climate-vulnerable countries across South Asia face severe risks from changing climatic conditions, making sustained access to climate finance essential for community resilience. The dialogue between Nepal and GGGI reinforces institutional efforts to direct international green investment toward vulnerable farming populations.

For agricultural communities in Nepal and the broader South Asian region, scaling up climate-resilient farming, reliable weather monitoring, and clean transport frameworks provides practical pathways to protect livelihoods, build sustainable value chains, and maintain economic stability amid climate uncertainty.