Making molehills out of mountains at COP30 – Nepali Times

Report on COP30 Negotiations and the Imperative for Mountain-Focused Climate Action Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

Stalled Negotiations and Implications for SDG 13 (Climate Action)

Negotiations at the COP30 climate summit have encountered significant delays, primarily concerning a clause for the phasing out of fossil fuels. This impasse directly challenges the core objectives of SDG 13 (Climate Action). The primary points of contention include:

• Divergent Interests: A fundamental disagreement exists between major petroleum-exporting nations, which resist reductions in fossil fuel use, and developing countries.
• Conditional Transition: Developing nations are unwilling to commit to a fossil fuel phase-out without financial compensation to facilitate a just transition to renewables, linking SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) with SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• Logistical Delays: The summit was extended by a day following a fire, which further delayed talks on the final resolution.

Highlighting Mountain Vulnerabilities: A Critical Gap in Global Climate Policy

The specific and severe impacts of climate change on mountain regions have been marginalized in negotiations. This oversight has profound implications for several Sustainable Development Goals.

• Climate Barometers: Mountain ranges like the Himalaya and the Alps are accurate indicators of climate change, experiencing accelerated warming.
• Water Resources (SDG 6): The High Asia region, the largest repository of fresh water stored as ice after the polar regions, is under threat, jeopardizing water security for downstream populations and progress on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
• Climate Justice and Ecosystems (SDG 15, SDG 1): Mountain communities, which have contributed minimally to global emissions, face the greatest hardships. The degradation of mountain ecosystems threatens biodiversity and livelihoods, undermining SDG 15 (Life on Land) and SDG 1 (No Poverty).

Progress and Advocacy for a Mountain Agenda: Fostering SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

In response to this marginalization, mountain nations have increased collaboration, embodying the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Key Advocacy Efforts:

• Coalition Building: Nations including Nepal, Andorra, Bhutan, and Kyrgyzstan have collaborated to raise the mountain agenda at recent COPs.
• Strategic Initiatives: Nepal has promoted the “Sagarmatha Sambad,” calling for a dedicated fund to safeguard mountain ecosystems. Kyrgyzstan has advocated for a Global Mountain Resilience Center to serve as an international platform for science, data sharing, and adaptation technologies.
• Unified Voice: Andorra’s representative noted the emergence of “one mountain voice” to share experiences and collaborate on policies supporting mountain livelihoods and ecosystems.

Procedural Advancements:

1. The term ‘mountains’ has been successfully included in the new Global Stocktake text following interventions from highland nations.
2. The COP Presidency has facilitated consultations on mountains and climate change, leading to a planned special dialogue at the June 2026 session in Bonn.
3. Subsidiary bodies (SBSTA and SBI) have been requested to hold a formal dialogue on mountains, which could establish an annual dialogue within the official COP process.

Scientific Projections and the Urgency for Enhanced Climate Action

Scientific reports underscore the critical need for immediate action to protect vulnerable regions and meet global climate targets.

• Accelerated Warming: Mountain regions are warming faster than the global average; the Himalaya is heating up 0.7°C more rapidly.
• Exceeding Paris Agreement Goals: The UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2025 projects a global temperature rise of 2.3–2.5°C by 2050, far exceeding the 1.5°C target. This trajectory will accelerate glacier melt, increase the risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and disrupt rainfall patterns, severely impacting communities and progress toward SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
• Impossibility of 1.5°C Target: Experts state that keeping global temperature rise to 1.5°C is now “almost certainly impossible” without immediate and deep emissions cuts.

Recommended Actions for Achieving Climate Targets and SDGs

To mitigate the worst impacts and bend the warming curve, the Climate Action Tracker proposes three critical near-term actions that align with multiple SDGs:

• Reduce Methane Emissions: Deep methane reductions can significantly limit peak temperatures.
• Triple Renewable Energy: A direct and vital action to achieve SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
• Double Energy Efficiency: A crucial measure to reduce overall emissions and energy demand.

The progress at COP30 remains insufficient to meet these targets. Meaningful and urgent action to address the specific vulnerabilities of mountain regions is essential for achieving SDG 13 and ensuring the sustainable future of these critical ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses international climate negotiations, the push to phase out fossil fuels, the specific vulnerabilities of mountain regions, and the need for global cooperation. Based on this, the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are addressed:

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – The core debate at COP30 mentioned in the article is about “phasing out fossil fuel” and “switching to renewables,” which is central to SDG 7.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – This is the primary focus of the article, which covers the COP30 climate summit, global temperature targets (1.5°C), emission reduction goals, and the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable nations.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – The article specifically highlights the threat to mountain ecosystems, such as the Himalaya and the Alps, due to accelerated warming and glacier melt, directly connecting to the goal of conserving terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article details the collaborative efforts of “mountain nations” like Nepal, Andorra, Bhutan, and Kyrgyzstan to lobby for their agenda, create a “one mountain voice,” and establish international dialogues and platforms, which exemplifies the partnerships needed to achieve the SDGs.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Several specific targets can be identified based on the discussions and actions described in the article:

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. This is directly referenced in the conflict between petroleum exporters and developing countries who need compensation for “switching to renewables.” The Climate Action Tracker’s suggestion to “triple renewable energy” also aligns with this target.
• Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. This target is explicitly mentioned as one of the “three near-term actions to bend the warming curve below 2°C” proposed by the Climate Action Tracker.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article emphasizes this by highlighting the “catastrophic risks downstream” from glacier melt, “increasing GLOF (glacial lake outburst flood) risks,” and the need for “adaptation technologies” for mountain countries. Kyrgyzstan’s proposal for a “Global Mountain Resilience Center” is a direct effort to build this capacity.
• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The effort by mountain nations to have the term “mountains” included in the “new Global Stocktake text” and to establish a “formal dialogue on mountains and climate impact” within the COP process are examples of integrating specific climate vulnerabilities into global policy and strategy.
• Target 13.a: Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties… to address the needs of developing countries. This is reflected in the statement that “developing countries do not want to phase out unless compensated” and Kyrgyzstan’s demand for “better access to climate finance,” noting that “mountain countries remain severely under-funded.”

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.4: By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity. The entire “mountain agenda” discussed in the article is focused on this. The call for a “dedicated fund to safeguard mountain ecosystems” initiated by Nepal’s Sagarmatha Sambad is a direct action aimed at achieving this target.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development… complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships. The article provides a clear example of this through the collaboration of mountain nations (Nepal, Andorra, Bhutan, Kyrgyzstan, Chile) to create “one mountain voice” and lobby for their shared interests at the COP summits.
• Target 17.7: Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries. Kyrgyzstan’s proposal for an international platform for “science, early warning, data sharing, adaptation technologies, and training for mountain countries” directly relates to this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Indicator for Target 7.2 & 7.3: The article explicitly mentions the goals of “Tripling renewable energy” and “Doubling energy efficiency” as measurable actions suggested by the Climate Action Tracker.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Indicator for Target 13.1: The frequency and destructiveness of GLOF events and the incidence of water scarcity in mountain regions are mentioned as signals of climate stress, serving as indicators of vulnerability. The establishment of a “Global Mountain Resilience Center” would be a progress indicator for building adaptive capacity.
• Indicator for Target 13.2: The inclusion of the term “mountains” in the “Global Stocktake text” is a concrete indicator of policy integration at the global level.
• Indicator for Target 13.a: The article implies a financial indicator by stating that “mountain countries remain severely under-funded,” suggesting that the amount of climate finance flowing to these nations can be tracked to measure progress.
• General Climate Indicators: The article is rich with measurable climate indicators, including:
  • Global temperature rise projections (“2.3–2.5°C by 2050”).
  • The international target of limiting warming to “1.5°C.”
  • Specific emission reduction goals (“emissions must fall 26% by 2030 and 46% by 2035” or be cut by “50% by 2030”).

SDG 15: Life on Land

• Indicator for Target 15.4: The rate of warming in mountain regions (“The Himalaya… is heating up 0.7°C more rapidly than elsewhere”) serves as an indicator of the threat level. Progress towards conservation could be measured by the establishment and capitalization of the “dedicated fund to safeguard mountain ecosystems.”

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Indicator for Target 17.16 & 17.7: Progress can be measured by the establishment of formal collaborative mechanisms, such as the “annual dialogue within the COP process” for mountains and the creation of the proposed “Global Mountain Resilience Center” for sharing data and technology.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: nepalitimes.com