Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal will depart for Fiji on Saturday, October 3, 2026, to participate in the Pre-COP Leaders Event on climate change, before proceeding to Australia for bilateral talks. He will lead a four-member Nepali delegation to the event, which is scheduled for October 5 and 6, 2026, in Fiji and Tuvalu, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Khanal is slated to address the Leaders Plenary on October 6. Prior to this, he will join a joint press conference with Surangel Whipps Jr., the President of Palau, Anthony Albanese, the Prime Minister of Australia, and Sitiveni Rabuka, the Prime Minister of Fiji. Nepal’s participation in this Pre-COP event, a preparatory meeting for the annual United Nations climate conference, aims to advance global dialogue and cooperation on climate change. It is expected to provide an opportunity to raise Nepal’s concerns regarding the impacts of climate change, climate justice, and the specific issues faced by Himalayan nations on an international platform.
Nepal, despite contributing less than 0.1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, faces severe consequences of climate change. The country has lost one-third of its snow cover in the last 30 years, and glaciers have melted 65% faster in the past decade compared to the previous one. Prime Minister Balen Shah, addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2026, called for climate justice and proposed a Himalayan Climate Resilience Mechanism involving Nepal, India, and China. He highlighted the recent Bhote Koshi-Trishuli floods, which killed at least 1,400 people and left over 6,000 missing, as a warning of increasing risks in the Himalayan region.
Following the events in Fiji and Tuvalu, Foreign Minister Khanal will travel to Australia. He is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Penny Wong, Australia’s Foreign Minister, on October 8, 2026. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs anticipates discussions on Nepal-Australia relations, bilateral cooperation, and various issues of mutual interest during the meeting. The third meeting of the Nepal-Australia Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) was held in Kathmandu on July 24, 2026, where both nations agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, climate resilience, hydropower, education, migration, and people-to-people ties. Simon Ernst, Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, also met with Prime Minister Balen Shah on October 1, 2026, to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation.
During his visit to Australia, Minister Khanal will also participate in separate programs organized by the Nepali Embassy in Canberra and the Nepali diaspora in Sydney. These interactions will allow him to engage with the Nepali community residing in Australia. Minister Khanal is scheduled to return to Nepal on October 12, 2026. The Pre-COP Leaders Event serves as a lead-up to COP31, which will take place from November 9 to 20, 2026, in Antalya, Turkey.
