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VOL. 28, NO. 08, Oct 24 , 2008 (Kartik 08 2065 B.S.)
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Policy In The Making The government is in the process of making a national policy to deal
with climate change
By A CORRESPONDENT
The average level of mercury is going up and the country has seen many
unusual climate patterns in the recent years. Te country is facing
certain consequences of global warming.
From excessive rainfall to rising temperature, the country's nature
seems to be facing drastic consequences.
Studies have shown that Nepal is in a very vulnerable position in
terms of global warming. The rise of temperature has already
threatened the glaciers and there is possibility of GLOF and floods in
the plain.
At a time when most of the countries in the region have already
drafted a national policy on climate change, Nepal's government is
finally in the process of drafting such a policy.
Organized by Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MoEST)
and World Wildlife Fund for Nature Conservation (WWF), participants of
two days meetings of different stakeholders discussed various issues
regarding the policy on climate change.
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Kosi flood: Unpredictable Consequences |
" Nepal is very vulnerable to climate change and the country must act
effectively to prevent the major disaster from climate change," said
Minister of Environment, Science and Technology Ganesh Shah. "The
meeting of various stakeholders will help to bring a long term policy
to cope with future challenge of climate change."
From the government officials to members of civil society, all of them
have spoken on the draft presented at the seminar. The draft paper,
among others, tries to deal extensively on matters related to climate
change.
"The policy will create proper atmosphere to deal with climate change
and find sustainable solution to tackle the global problem. Since
Nepal lacks the concrete policy, there are difficulties in
implementing the various programs," said Purushotam Ghimire, joint
secretary at MoETS.
The draft policy discussed at the meetings stressed the need of a
technical apex body which can carry out research, surveillance and
other related activities. Chaired by Joint secretary Ghimire, four
prominent persons presented study report on the program.
Professor Dr Bal Krishna Sapkota presented on the paper on Energy and
green house gas production by industrial sector, Homkanta Chaulagain
presented the paper on climate change and existing legal clauses and
Dr. Narayan Chaulagain presented the paper on Vulnerability and
Adaptation. Similarly, Kumud Shrestha presented the paper on reducing
the carbon sinks and Adarsa Prasad Pokharel presented the preliminary
draft of national policy on Climate Change.
After the presentation of paper, the participants set up five working
groups on the agenda like institutional strengthening and public
awareness, Agriculture and Forest, Water Resources, Green house gas
and pollution control and vulnerability and adaptation.
Despite its vulnerability to the climate change, the government has
hardly found time to prepare the national policy in the past. As the
incidents related to climate change continue to increase, the
government was forced to prepare a national policy.
"Our country cannot remain silent at the present context of climate
change. We need to draft a new national policy to cope the situation
in future, "said minister Shah. "We will bring new policy after
consulting all the stake holders."
From adaptation and mitigation, Nepal needs to look at various areas.
"We will accommodate the concerns and suggestions given by various
stakeholders in the meeting," said joint secretary Ghimire.
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