Kathmandu, Feb 14: Minister for Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi emphasized preparedness for tackling climate change-induced challenges, stating that Nepal, being a mountainous country, was vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
At a workshop organized by the Nepal Climate Initiatives established at the School of Environmental Science and Management (SchEMS) here today, Minister Shahi pressed for effective solutions to mitigate climate impacts.
He asserted, “It is evident that Nepal is a developing country and a mountainous country and the effects of climate change posing challenges. Despite its negligible contribution to global carbon emission, Nepal is hardest hit by the climate-related consequences.”
Minister Shahi, thus, acknowledged the importance of climate justice for vulnerable countries like Nepal and viewed that if the pledge made by greenhouse gas emitting countries are fulfilled literally, it would be easier for the entire world to adapt and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.
“It would also significantly contribute in adopting and achieving climate-friendly developments,” he voiced.
Minister Shahi underscored the need for Nepal to enhance its capacity to benefit from the international funds established for climate finance regardless of the availability of the amount in those funds.
He explained, “Since the assistance coming through climate fund is competitive, our climate projects need to be given competitive edge in all respects with support from all sectors and agencies. For this, climate science or right analysis of climate change is very important to strengthen our projects and secure international funding.”
Furthermore, he said that it was imperative to present scientifically substantiated data and evidences to establish the links between the climate change and the disasters induced by it to secure climate finance.
On the occasion, Minister Shahi launched a book that underlines the importance (indispensability) of climate science for securing climate finance. Lauding the publication of the book, he observed that it was commendable of the veteran university professors to pen a book on climate science.
He was confident that the book could contribute in designing projects with scientific requirements to obtain climate funds from the organizations like International Climate Fund and Green Climate Fund.
Similarly, Dr Maheshwor Dhakal, Chief of the Climate Change Management Division under the Ministry of Forests and Environment, hoped that the book would aid in devising future strategies to address the climate changes-induced problems.
Climatologist Manjit Dhakal, National Climate Initiatives’ co-coordinator Prof Dr Sanjayanath Khanal and SchEMS’s Principal Ajay Bhakta Mathema univocally expressed their confidence that the book would facilitate Nepal’s access to international climate funds. #environment #nepal SchEMS
