MELAMCHI, Jan 5: Concerned stakeholders have stressed the need for more efforts to establish Nepal's easy access to climate finance.
They stressed this during a seminar on 'Access of Climate Finance in Local Levels and Climate Finance-related Project Development' organised by the Pokhara University in coordination with Melamchi municipality.
Presenting a working paper at the programme, Nepal Climate Initiative (NCI) Chair Prof Dr Madan Koirala pressed the need to float a persuasive proposal to secure access to climate finance and to prepare such documents backed by research.
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NCI member Prof Dr Sanajyanath Khanal stressed the need of enhancing the capacity of local levels to assess the nature of natural disasters. He called for incorporating national priorities in a proposal to seek access to various mechanisms of international climate finance.
He advised the three-tier government, intergovernmental bodies and stakeholders concerned to cooperate for implementing effective programs for climate change adaptation and minimization. "Nepal has a minimal contribution in carbon emission, but we are bearing the brunt of climate impacts. It is challenging for us to manage economic resources to minimize these impacts."
Manjeet Dhakal, climate change advisor to Minister for Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi, said a delay in reducing carbon emissions by responsible countries will further worsen the earth's temperature, affecting the entire ecosystem.
Various studies suggest that Sindhupalchowk is vulnerable to climate change impacts and it is urgent for the three-level government to make and implement a climate-friendly budget, according to him.
As he shared before the gathering, 2024 was measured to be the hottest year ever due to human-caused climate change and if the ongoing carbon emission is not prevented, the temperature of earth will further rise. "Nepal's temperature increased by 2.5 degrees Celsius in 45 years," he added.
Ranjana Bhatta, from the Climate Change and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion sector, emphasized the importance of incorporating gender considerations in climate change-related projects.
She highlighted that women, people with disabilities and senior citizens are disproportionately affected by climate change and stressed the need to address their specific issues when developing such projects.
