Nepal may be a small sized country but its climate is as diverse and as beautiful as its culture and its people. However, its erosion-prone mountains, its heavy monsoon rains, uncontrolled burning and forest fires, the impact of which you should be able to see behind me with the fog, makes the country especially vulnerable to climate change.
Climate change is posing direct threats to Nepal's remarkable biodiversity, its mountains and its glaciers, and its cultural diversity. This is why USAID is partnering with the Government of Nepal, with like-minded development partners, and with local communities to strengthen Nepal's ability to manage climate risks. while sustainably growing its economy.
One example of this partnership is USAID's urgent Nepal program, a five-year 19 million dollar partnership that will help the country transition from imported fossil fuel dependency to electric alternatives fueled by clean energy produced in country. We are proud of the achievements we have made in the country so far, and we stand ready to partner with the Government of Nepal and with its people on climate issues in the days to come.