Kathmandu, March 13: When it comes to dealing with climate change impacts, the role of local level is underscored at national and international debates. The local levels have however found themselves belittled by the federal and provincial governments to this regard.
Whether it is foreign exposure or the discussions on pressing issues of climate change, the federal level officials dominate the scene. Budget allocation to the local levels is meagre for climate actions. This was what they viewed during a programme organized in the federal capital, Kathmandu, on Tuesday.
The local level people’s representatives wondered concentration of knowledge and training at central level, which have direct role on limiting local level’s capacity to launch programmes on climate change adaption, mitigation and resilience.
During the ‘national dialogue on climate change’ organized by Municipality Association of Nepal (MuAN), Mayor of Kageshwori Manohara municipality, Upendra Karki, viewed, “Institutional study and management of environment and climate change is required at local level. Strengthening of local level is essential so that climate actions could be ensured effective.”
According to him, our ability to ascertain whether any incident is caused by climate change bears significance. It helps build knowledge and skills for climate change adaptation and mitigation at local level. Establishment of knowledge centres at local level can be helpful to spread widespread publicity on this pressing issue, according to him.
Similarly, Deputy Mayor of Nagarjun Municipality, Sushila Adhikari, wondered why only government officials from central levels participated in the international forums, while local level employees and people’s representatives were in dire need of knowledge on climate change. Although local levels are close observers of climate change impacts, very few people from local level were given opportunity to attend the COP28, she reminded.
Adhikari emphasized that without local levels’ capacity building, climate actions could not be achieve desired result.
Similarly, MuAN Chair Bhim Prasad Dhungana, Vice Chair Krishna Prasad Sapkota and Chairperson of National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal, Laxmi Devi Pande, urged the federal government to be liberal on budget allocation and release it to local levels for efficient and effective climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Chairperson of Centre for Democracy and Development, Dr Dila Sangraula, expressed worry why climate change issue was not prioritized to the extent it had to be. Massive awareness on climate change and its impacts is imperative at local levels, while robust coordination among three tiers of government is equal urgency, she viewed.
On the occasion, Chairperson of State Affairs and Good Governance Committee of federal parliament, Ramhari Khatiwada, opined that policy and structural reform could be mulled for strengthening local government.
Secretary at Ministry of Forest and Environment, Buddi Sagar Paudel, admitted that present systems of energy and finance were insufficient to help Nepal achieve climate ambitions. The SDGs, disaster response and climate changes could be dealt with together, he suggested.
Chairperson of National Natural Resource and Financial Commission, Balananda Paudel, underscored the need of effective implementation of policy work plan on climate change. He also sought transparency in local level budget for it.
The dialogue was held on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the MuAN, an umbrella organisations of municipalities in the country. #Nepal #RSS
