Kathmandu, Apr. 10: Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun has said
that financial constraints and a shortage of capable human resource were the
key challenges for Nepal in being prepared and mitigating climate change risks.
“We need to find solutions to
climate change risks and design long-term development plans in line with the
Sendai Framework,” he said while addressing the 3-day conference on ‘Water,
environment and climate change: Knowledge sharing and partnership’ in the
capital on Tuesday.
He stressed on planning for the Sustainable Development Goal
(SDG) No. 6 – ensure access to water and sanitation for all, as supply of clean
water has become a necessity with modern development and urbanisation.
The United Nations has said that water scarcity, poor water
quality and inadequate sanitation negatively impact food security, livelihood
choices and educational opportunities for poor families across the world. By
2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by
chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water.
Saying that partnership should be formed to fight with the
pollution and climate change, he expressed hope that the conference would come
out with a new message to the world.
He said that like other developing nations, Nepal was also
suffering from the ill impacts of climate change, rapid population growth and
urbanisation.
“It is beyond our capacity to entirely resolve the ill
effects of global climate change through our limited knowledge, resources,
ability, skill and technology,” said the VP. “However, we must not make any
delay to fight and mitigate the impacts of climate change and make the Nepali
people resilient to it by enabling them with a favourable environment to live
in and manage livelihood.”
According to him, taking into consideration the adverse
impacts of climate change on people’s life and nation’s economy, the government
is committed to mobilising both domestic and international expertise and
resources to formulate and implement necessary legal provisions, policies and
standards.
Former prime minister of the Republic of Korea and United
Nations Secretary-General’s special envoy on Disaster Risk Reduction Han
Seung-soo said that the management of water was a highly critical issue.
He said that water management was necessary due to its
multipurpose use in agriculture, food, energy, transportation and others.
“Globalisation, industrialisation and rapidly growing
population have resulted in surging demand of water. But many countries have
been failed in controlling water pollution and proper utilisation of water.
Poor management of water resources has resulted in shortage of water and even
water-induced disasters,” he said.
He urged the countries to come together to preserve the environment
and water and stressed on the need to implement adaptation programmes.
Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee engineer
Ramdeep Shah said that use of information and communication technology should
be promoted for smart water management.
According to him, the conference has brought together many
national and international experts, who will share their expertise, experiences
and knowledge, which will result in pragmatic resolutions.
Speaking in the panel sessions, experts said that every
development project should go through climate screening.
They also pointed towards the gap in policies and strategies
in addressing the challenges of climate change and said that lots of work on
adaptation and preparedness were needed.
More than 500 participants from 20 countries, including
Nepal, are participating in the conference and about 126 working papers will be presented on 15
different topics on water, environment and climate change.
President of the Nepal Engineers Association (NEA) Hare Ram
Shrestha said that challenges of the deteriorating natural environment should
be tackled in time, and countries and organisations need to work collectively
to protect water sources and save people from the impact of climate change.
The Department of Water Supply and Sewerage (DWSS), Society
of Public Health Engineers, Nepal (SOPHEN) and
Nepal Engineers’ Association (NEA) are the organisers and the Ministry of Water
Supply and Ministry of Environment are the patrons.
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