KATHMANDU, Nov 10: At a time when countries across the globe are gearing up for the much anticipated COP21 Paris Meet in France, Nepal's homework for preparing its national agenda is nearly complete.
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According to Ministry of Science Technology and Environment, the preliminary draft consisting of national agenda is nearly done and the final draft will be completed within a week.
"The draft will be of at least 15 pages and the effort will be made to adjust all the necessary issues to strengthen Nepal from further vulnerability of climate change impacts," said Naresh Sharma, under secretary at MoSTE. He is also an alternate member of the Adaptation Fund Board.The draft focuses on adaptation, loss and damage, climate finance, mitigation, technology transfer and capacity building measures. Under these major points, numerous bullets explaining the needs of Nepal's defense against climate change impacts have been clearly jotted down.
Over 60 heads of state and 195 ministers are expected to attend this mega conference from November 30 to December 11.
Nepal is party to the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Although Nepal's contribution to the causes of climate change is negligible, it is on the receiving end of its impacts. Every year, it grapples with problems such as distorted monsoon rain, increasing flooding and landslides, risks of glacial lake outburst floods, droughts and other climate induced disasters.
"While climate change is a global problem, solutions have to be searched at global level. In this context, COP21 is an arena of opportunity for small and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) like Nepal. The draft is being prepared to meet the international climate change agreements and various issues have been included," said Raju Pandit Chhetri, an expert on Climate Change Finance.
If the negotiations among the developed and developing countries end positively, there is a possibility of developing Green Climate Fund (GCF) worth USD 100 billion with the support of large industrial countries.
If that happens, countries like Nepal will be allocated huge sum of fund for tackling vulnerabilities from climate change.
"Decisions on any negotiation during such conference are always based on consensus and LDCs have to forward their issues in unison. Efforts will be made to include as many of our agendas as possible," said Krishna Chandra Poudel, Secretary at MoSTE.
Meanwhile, the efforts to cut down carbon emission and replace fossil fuel consumption with other environment-friendly ways like alternative energy have been growing.
