London – Honourable Mr. Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, Minister for Forests and Environment of the Government of Nepal, arrived in London this morning to participate in the Ministerial Roundtable on Tackling Water Security across the Climate-Nature-Development Nexus, organized by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The Hon. Minister also participated in a Water and Climate Reception hosted by His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace later in the evening.

Earlier in the day, Minister Shahi Thakuri delivered a speech at the Ministerial Roundtable, sharing Nepal’s approaches to tackling water security in the face of climate change. The event brought together ministers from countries severely impacted by water insecurity and climate change, along with experts in water security, climate change, and nature, as well as representatives from key international organizations including the World Bank, UNEP, UNICEF, IFAD, and the Global Commission on the Economics of Water.

In his address, the Minister emphasized the initiatives undertaken by the Government of Nepal to address the life-threatening challenges posed by climate change, particularly in Nepal’s diverse ecosystems and livelihoods, which are facing varying levels of impact due to geography.

During the Roundtable, Hon. Minister Shahi Thakuri also highlighted the Sagarmatha Sambaad (Everest Dialogue), a global platform initiated by the Government of Nepal to foster multistakeholder dialogue. The first episode of the dialogue will take place from 16-18 May 2025 in Kathmandu, focusing on the theme of “Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity.” The Minister underscored Nepal’s strong commitment to amplifying voices from the Himalayan region and gathering international support to address the region’s climate challenges.

At the conclusion of the Roundtable, the Minister extended an official invitation from Honourable Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, to Honourable Ms. Baroness Chapman, Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and the Caribbean of the FCDO, to participate in the upcoming Sagarmatha Sambaad. Additionally, the Minister invited Miss Ruth Davis, the UK’s Special Representative for Nature, to join the dialogue.

H. E. Mr. Chandra Kumar Ghimire, Ambassador of Nepal to the United Kingdom, accompanied Hon. Minister Shahi Thakuri throughout both events.

Tomorrow evening, the Minister will attend an event organized by the Embassy, with the presence of representatives from the Nepali diaspora.

Hon. Minister Shahi Thakuri is scheduled to depart for Kathmandu on Saturday, 15 March 2025.