Nepal to table emergency climate disaster resolution at IPU Assembly, Speaker departs for Tanzania today

Speaker Dolprasad Aryal has said he will register an emergency resolution on climate-induced disasters at the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Speaking to reporters at Singha Durbar on Friday, he said this would be the first time Nepal has brought such a resolution in the IPU's history.

According to the Speaker, coordination through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already secured support from around 50 countries.

He said preparations have been completed for 28 separate meetings with delegations from various countries during the assembly.

Speaker Aryal said the plan is to bring Nepal's experience of natural disasters and the issue of climate justice into the international debate.

He said he intends to present at the IPU the same position the Prime Minister presented at the United Nations.

The Speaker said the assembly will also be told that lawmakers under 40 now make up more than about 37 percent of parliament.

He objected to criticism suggesting that parliament sessions are being closed just so lawmakers can travel abroad.

He said this would be his first visit to an IPU assembly.

Before departing, Speaker Aryal met President Ramchandra Paudel on Friday to brief him on the assembly's agenda.

Leading a seven-member delegation, Speaker Aryal is departing for Tanzania on Sunday.

The conference, to be held in Arusha, Tanzania, is expected to be attended by speakers and lawmakers from 183 countries.