Government begins efforts to help people cope with climate change, its impact
The government has initiated activities to help climate vulnerable communities cope with climate change impacts, and reduce its impacts on its people, property and natural resources.
According to a report titled ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contribution’ drafted by the Ministry of Population and Environment to submit it to the Germany-based United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat, the Government of Nepal is strengthening its institutions on climate change and REDD-plus programmes.
The Climate Change Management Division at the MoPE, and REDD Implementation Centre under the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation are developing necessary prerequisites for effective implementation of the convention provisions.
“The country has also established the Recovery and Reconstruction Authority to rebuild Nepal after the earthquake. Several non-governmental and community-based organisations are also engaged in strengthening national and local entities to provide services to the climate vulnerable communities,” it read.
Nepal has established coordination mechanisms at the highest political-level for necessary policy guidance and coordination and at local level for implementation on the ground. Establishments of Climate Change Council, Climate Change Coordination Committee and REDD Coordinating and Monitoring Committee at the political levels and Multi-stakeholder Climate Change Initiatives Coordination Committee and REDD Working Group at secretary-level provide guidance to ensure coordination and functions to align the change with development activities. The REDD multi-stakeholder forum acts as an outreach and communication platform.
Nepal’s Climate Change Policy (2011) envisions a country spared from the adverse impacts of climate change, by considering climate justice, through the pursuit of environmental conservation, human development, and sustainable development – all contributing toward a prosperous society. The policy has objectives of, inter alia, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting the use of clean energy; enhancing climate adaptation and resilience capacity of local communities for optimum utilisation of natural resources and their efficient management; and adopting a low-carbon development path by pursuing climate-resilient socio-economic development.
The government stresses on mitigating adverse impacts of climate change, and adopting adaptation measures and strategies to develop mitigation-friendly forest management systems. It also said that Nepal had a policy for maximum utilisation of hydropower potential to meet its domestic demand of electricity by mitigating adverse environmental impacts. It also has a policy to accelerate renewable energy services, and increase access to the renewable energy technologies with subsidy provisions.
The National Rural Renewable Energy Programme, which is being implemented, provides the framework to provide energy access and energy efficient technologies to local communities and indigenous people living in the mountains, hills and low lands of Nepal through a subsidy programme.
