KATHMANDU, Nov 26: With the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-28) just around the corner, climate change experts have advocated for a separate dedicated ministry or agency specifically to deal with the climate change issue in Nepal. The COP-28 is set to convene in Dubai from this Wednesday.
Experts assert that establishing such a body is crucial to secure climate finance, efficiently utilize incoming funds, to ensure a consistent negotiations team in global climate discussions, and lead and facilitate this multidimensional and crosscutting issue.
"In light of the intricate and multifaceted nature of this subject, it has become inevitable to establish a separate institution or ministry in Nepal," climate change expert Raju Pandit Chhetri said during the Nagarik Sambad climate debate.
Stating that Nepal has pursued progressive and ambitious policies and programmes towards addressing climate change, Chhetri said that limited efforts of the Ministry of Forests and Environment would not be sufficient to achieve these objectives.
Dedicated ministry needed to tackle climate change: Experts
“There are currently three levels of government in Nepal: federal, provincial and local. The issue of climate change is also related to other federal ministries and structures. Therefore, given the gravity of the issue, there is a need for a separate and powerful agency to deal with it," he said.
He argued that it is necessary to implement the existing policies adopted by Nepal in all three levels of government and connect all interrelated issues. He recalled that the climate issues were discussed more and related programs were developed before the merger of the then Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Environment.
“At present, the Ministry of Forests and Environment says that it will only play a coordinating role in this matter and that it is an issue on which everyone should work together," Chetri argued.
He said that Nepal's neighboring countries are working to address climate change by forming a separate ministry.
“Our neighbors Pakistan, India and Bangladesh have separate ministries to deal with climate change. They are taking a step ahead by creating a ministry to deal with the problem. It seems that we have to follow suit,” Pandit said during the Nagarik Sambad.
Dr Popular Gentle, an expert adviser on environment and climate change to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who participated in the Nagarik Sambad, said that it is necessary to review the demand for creating a separate ministry or agency to deal with climate change.
He said that the second meeting of the National Council on Environment and Climate Change under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Dahal had formed a task force to make suggestions on climate finance and the task force has already started its work.
"This group will study and submit suggestions on what kind of structure and policy system should be adopted to introduce climate finance and use it effectively," said Dr Gentle.
The United Nations Climate Conference (COP 28) will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from November 30 to December 12. PM Dahal will be leading the Nepali team in this conference, which will be attended by leaders and representatives of nearly 200 countries. PM Dahal has been saying that Nepal's concerns and interests will be strongly emphasized in the conference.
