Climate diplomacy is an important aspect that Nepal should consider to add in its methodology to coordinate with other countries for receiving technical and financial cooperation and exchanges. Speakers highlighted this in an online interaction programme to discuss and share knowledge on the COP26 and the ongoing preparations in Nepal to tackle mitigating and minimising climate change effects. The interaction was organized by Nepal Weekly, the English language newspaper on Monday. On the occasion, former Minister for Science and Technology Ganesh Shah said that climate change has been a serious problem for the mankind and poses serious challenges for the human civilisation, and that this has to be brought into zero or minimum level in no time. “All countries whether developed or developing should work together on climate change issues. Fruitful dialogues for technical and financial aspects should be held and subsequently implemented the conclusions,” he added. Stating that for the desired results in all levels the federal government, relevant agencies and stakeholders should work in a coordinated manner, he suggested the federal government mechanism should be efficient in accessing to knowledge, technology, financial resources to the working agencies and institutions in the lower levels.
Moreover, youth engagement in research and studies should be one other priority for science based reports and documentation, he added. Madhusudhan Adhikari, executive director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) mentioned that Nepal is working in the outlines of Nationally Determined Nationally (NDCs) as Nepal had submitted the second such document in late 2020. Alternative Energy Promotion Centre has been working for the promotion of renewable energy technologies for last 25 years. Now it is preparing to promote electric cooking in Terai districts utilising the fund availed by Green Climate Fund. There are activities are also going on reduce use of fossil fuel in Nepal and energy efficiency, he added. He also explained the activities Nepal organised effectively in the COP26 venue. Guna Raj Dhakal, chairperson of Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal said that Fossil fuels are the main cause of climate change, so renewable energy technologies should be the priority. Private sector and professionals working in Nepal are capable to generate electricity from renewable energy technologies to fulfil the demand in the country.
The government needs to create conducive environment including investment security and support in technology transfer. That will help reduce import of fossil fuels to reduce the wider gap in the trade balance. Raju Pandit Chhetri, Executive Director of Prakriti Resources Centre (PRC), who has experience of 15 years in the areas of climate change policy processes and sustainable development, made a presentation on activities of COP26, its achievements and the achievements of prior events. He said that COP26 had opened up some ways for the world to look climate change from a different angle which leads all to accept that there is an urgency to work together to reduce climate change effects. “Therefore, commitments of providing technical and financial support can be hoped to be addressed soon. He also added that science based evidences and documents should be well taken by world leaders with political commitment and adopt them for the earliest actions.” Manjeet Dhakal, Head of LDC Support Team at Climate Analytics and working on climate change and a number of past COPs said that the observers need to go with the contents of the resolutions and discussions of COP26 and the ways it paved for further actions. In the, the government mechanism should be well performed to make provincial governments and local governments in line with the NDC, periodic plans and relevant government policies.
This will be opportunities brought together by effects, he added. Milan Dhungana, undersecretary at Ministry of Forests and Environment and engaged in field of forestry and carbon inventory for about a decade, informed the government activities for the upcoming and different national and international events. He also MOFE is coordinating activities in provincial levels. It is also emphasizing the public sector in partnering with private sector in line with government policies. Concluding the online event, Editor and Publisher of The Nepal Weekly Shirish Ballabh Pradhan said that the developed countries are also bearing the undesirable consequences created by climate change effects. Human activities thus need to be environment friendly, he said and underlined the need for forging coordination between man and the nature. Men should not exert too much pressure on nature for their luxurious needs and lifestyle, said. That means, resources of renewable energy technologies should be well utilised, Pradhan emphasized. The Nepal Weekly, initially published as Explore Nepal, has been catering news, views and opinions on tourism, culture, nature, environment, climate change, contemporary politics, socio-economy and so on in the national context with priority.
