Kathmandu: Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability, represented the UAE at the inaugural Sagarmatha Sambaad Forum in Kathmandu, Nepal. The forum, themed ‘Climate Change, Mountains, and the Future of Humanity’, was inaugurated by Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli.
According to Emirates News Agency, the event, organized by the Government of Nepal and named after Mount Everest, convened government officials, UN leaders, scientists, civil society, and regional communities. The objective was to enhance global dialogue on climate change, mountain ecosystems, and environmental justice. In his address, Balalaa reiterated the UAE’s dedication to climate diplomacy and multilateral action. He emphasized the UAE’s involvement in the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) at COP28, held in 2023 in Expo City Dubai, with a commitment of US$100 million, stressing the need for investment in regions vulnerable to climate change.
Balalaa also spoke on the UAE’s co-hosting of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference with Senegal, viewing it as a pivotal moment for uniting desert, coastal, and mountain nations under a common agenda for water and climate action. He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), urging for cross-ecosystem partnerships and region-specific solutions.
On the forum’s sidelines, Balalaa engaged in bilateral meetings with senior Nepalese officials to enhance cooperation on climate, investment, and development. Discussions with Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dipak Khadijah, Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, Minister of Forests and Environment, centered on trade, economic collaboration, potential renewable energy investments, forest conservation, biodiversity, and ecotourism.
Balalaa also met with Sharmeen Soneya Murshid, a senior advisor to the Government of Bangladesh, who expressed support for the UAE-Senegal 2026 UN Water Conference and emphasized the importance of water security cooperation from mountains to deltas.
The UAE’s participation in Sagarmatha Sambaad underscores its commitment to climate action and its strategic goal to strengthen multilateral ties, focusing on ecological vulnerability and opportunity across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Through active engagement in high-level conferences and forums, the UAE continues to assert its leadership in clean energy, water diplomacy, and inclusive international cooperation.