Kathmandu, Dec. 22
Nepal has given high importance to climate
change and mitigation of its impacts and minimisation of greenhouse gases in
its recently launched Foreign Policy, 2020.
It has included a separate article on the
issue and 17-point strategy and action plan while reduction of climate change
impacts is included as one of the key objectives of the policy which is said to
be the first integrated document on the foreign affairs matters.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar
Gyawali had launched the policy with ecological balance, human safety and
earth’s protection earlier this month.
The country aims at playing an effective
role reducing the greenhouse gas emission and adaptation to combat with the
challenges of climate change and its negative impacts.
It aims at playing an active role at the
United Nations and other international platforms and playing leading role in
climate change issues by uniting the mountain and other countries.
Protection, promotion and utilisation of
natural resources to mitigate the impacts of environmental degradation and
climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and attracting
needed financial as well as technical support for it are the strategies
included in the policy.
“Emphasis would be given to the implementation
of polluters pay principle, common but differentiated responsibilities and
carbon trading provisions,” read the document.
Nepal also aims to establish the
contribution of Sagarmatha and Himalayan region in storing of sustainable water
resources, minimising negative impact of climate change, maintaining ecological
balance and cultivating human civilisation.
The policy has action plans like promoting
Nepali herbs and wild animals and preservation of bio-diversity, promoting high
mountains as the resource for bio-diversity, and promotion of renewable energy
and green development. The country aims at presenting itself as a
carbon-neutral country at international forums.
Challenge
to manage resources
The Foreign Policy, 2020 has clearly
spelled out the challenges to the implementation of the strategy against the
climate change impacts and ecological disturbances.
Managing sufficient financial resources and
technology to combat the negative impact of the climate change and establish
the agenda of mountain countries in the international policy making process is
the greatest challenge for the country like Nepal which is struggling hard to
collect resources for basic development work.
It also needs foreign aid during the
pandemics and large natural disasters.
Enhancing the competitive capacity after
Nepal’s graduation from the least developed country (LDC) and maintaining trade
facilities are also mentioned as the key challenges.
However, the clarity on national
development, environment for greater regional cooperation on the issue, and
business and investment-friendly climate in the country are mentioned as the
positive milestones towards the climate change management.
Minister for Forests and Environment will
be included in the Steering Committee for direction, supervision, monitoring
and evaluation of the policy and secretary of the ministry in the Coordination
committee to support and cooperate in the implementation of it.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 December 2020.
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