Global warning

The much-awaited UN global warming talks kicked off the other day. The December 7-18 marathon is to be participated in by leaders of 190 countries, including Nepal, and is described as being one of the major events of the world. Among the goals of the conclave are to discuss emission targets and financial measures to deal with climate change. The long term goal at Copenhagen is intended to supplant the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate change as the targets set at Kyoto run out in 2012. Nepal as the chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) is expected to uphold the proposal that asks all the developed countries to donate 1.5 per cent of their GDP to a Climate Change Friendly Fund. Meanwhile, in preparation of the climate change summit Nepal drew the attention of the international community by holding a cabinet meeting at Kalapatthar, the base camp of Mount Everest Friday. Among the 10-point declaration made during the summit was to protect the Himalayas and biodiversity that are increasingly coming under threat from the effects of global warming and climate change.

The Everest meeting of the council of ministers has also come up with important decisions to combat these scourges by among other things declaring Gauri-Shankar and Api-Namp as conservation areas with the intention to expand the these areas from the prevailing 20 per cent to 25 per cent, thereby increasing the forest area in the nation to 40 per cent. This is indeed a lofty goal and a challenge at a time when the forest cover of the country is dwindling at an alarming rate. The meeting has also urged the global community to limit greenhouse gas emissions to below 350 parts per million. It also

urges not to allow the average temperature to increase by more than 1.5 degree centigrade after industrialization. The adverse effects of climate change are already being felt worldwide and Nepal is no exception. The glaciers are melting at an accelerating pace threatening the fragile Himalayan

ecology. The ill effects of this could be perceived within a matter of decades. There would be scarcity of fresh water and in the beginning we could

see more devastating floods as glacial lakes break their banks. At stake is the fate of billions of people in the Himalayan region.

Nepal is also for conducting more researches on climate change and its effects. As is only fair, because it is mostly the better off countries which are

responsible for most of the emissions they should be providing compensation to the LDCs and their peoples who are directly affected by climate change. The Copenhagen summit should see some major breakthroughs with countries like the United States, China and India pledging to cut down emissions by a substantial degree. Even countries like South Africa have also plans to cut their emission in a significant manner. Not to be outdone, Nepal too has promised similar cuts to help in the global fight against climate change. Seen from this light, Nepal would also be playing its role in the summit by championing the cause of the LDCs at the same time speaking up for protecting the Himalayas by developing long term strategies.

Thinking times

The adage of justice coming late than never ought t be put into oblivion because the speedier the verdict the more the litigants concerned will have faith in the judiciary. However, the working of the judiciary in the country leaves much to be desired, though the fact remains that justice comes but at the cost of time, and possibly disgruntlement at times to the party at the loser’s end. The time factor taken is responsible for the backlog

of litigations at the courts which may be because of many reasons. A foremost reason forwarded as defence is inadequate human resources. It may be a valid argument but it leads the door to open up for more recruits versed in the legal art for rapid processing of legal cases.

Besides, the urgent need is also to look into complaints lodged, if any, against the incumbent judges. This will further go to add to the credibility of the judiciary. And, the need to keep the house in order falls on the Chief Justice, which by all means is not an easy task considering the complex issues involved. This all needs careful considerations and pragmatic decisions so that justice is done.