Road to COP26: supporting Nepal’s leadership in climate action
Our work is helping the Government of Nepal to strengthen its policy framework, build robust evidence on vulnerabilities to improve decision-making, and develop a climate finance roadmap.
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Date
October 2021
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Area of expertiseClimate, Energy, and Nature
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CountryNepal
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KeywordsClimate policy and finance , Forestry and land use
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OfficeOPM Nepal
In the run-up to COP26, the Policy and Institutions Facility (PIF) supported the Government of Nepal to execute a roadmap to strategic engagement in COP26. Our work helped the Government of Nepal to strengthen its policy framework, build robust evidence on vulnerabilities to improve decision-making, and develop a climate finance roadmap. All this has contributed to secure commitments on climate finance in line with Nepal's climate targets.
Strengthening Nepal’s policy environment
Through the PIF, we are supporting the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) to develop the institutional framework and policy reforms for tackling climate change in Nepal. In 2019, the Government of Nepal endorsed the National Climate Change Policy which aims to provide policy guidance towards developing a resilient society. Our work with the Government of Nepal to revise the National Framework on Local Adaptation Plans of Action, formulate the GESI Strategy and Action Plan on Climate Change (Nepali), and the Climate Resilient Planning and Budgeting Guidelines (Nepali) aims to localise climate actions and build climate resilience within the most vulnerable local communities, including women, children and people with disabilities. We also supported raising the climate ambitions of Nepal in the second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
Nepal endorsed the Long Term Strategy (LTS) which outlines Nepal's ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. We also supported the development of the National Framework of climate-induced Loss and Damage, which was endorsed by Nepal's cabinet. The Loss and Damage framework provides a unique opportunity for Nepal to devise country-driven, and inclusive approaches to tackle climate change risk and vulnerability. We are also working with the Government to prepare an implementation plan for the NDC with a focus on meeting climate targets related to the forestry sector.
Strengthening evidence to underpin decision-making
We are supporting the Government of Nepal to generate robust evidence for international climate finance. We completed the Vulnerability and Risk Assessment and Identifying Adaptation Options with the MoFE and sectoral ministries. For the first time, the Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) process embraces eight thematic sectors, including one cross-cutting sector identified in the National Climate Change Policy (2019) as well as municipalities, 77 districts, seven provinces and five geographic regions. The sector VRA assessment featured i) Agriculture and Food Security; ii) Forest, biodiversity and Watershed Management; iii) Tourism, Natural and Cultural Heritage; iv) Water Resources and Energy; v) Health; vi) Water Sanitation and Hygiene; vii) Rural and Urban Settlements; viii) Industry, Transport and Physical Infrastructure; ix) GESI, livelihood and governance.
This work creates a strong baseline for climate change impacts, risks and vulnerabilities in Nepal along with identifying adaptation options. The report is contributing to the formulation of Nepal’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) which suggests that Nepal needs to access and mobilize USD 24 billion for adaptation & USD 25 billion for mitigation actions by 2030.
We are also extensively supporting Nepal’s Forest Research and Training Center (FRTC) on Ecosystem and Forest Type Mapping which will identify and classify ecosystems, and update existing bioclimatic zones and biogeographic stratification. This mapping is crucial for identifying priority ecosystem and forest types for conservation.
Helping Nepal secure finance to address climate challenges
Nepal has an unprecedented opportunity to leverage traditional and non-traditional and low carbon financing. We supported the Government of Nepal to devise Nepal’s Climate Finance Strategic Roadmap (forthcoming) which aims to guide the Government in increased access to climate finance, build capacity at all levels of society to adapt to the impacts of climate change, and enhance coordination between the Government and other stakeholders, such as development partners and the private sector. With ambitions raised by Nepal during COP26 with its climate commitments, the financing priorities should be more aligned to meet the targets.
Communicating climate change and strengthening Nepal’s position in COP26
We brought together editors of leading media, to discuss climate change and its impacts from socio-economic and political perspectives. Some of the stories we have shared include nature-based solutions, melting mountains (Nepali), water crisis (Nepali), and electric mobility (newspaper report and TV report). We also supported weekly radio programmes discussing climate issues and Nepal’s preparation for COP26. Different videos for World Environment Day, World Wetlands Day, and International Mountain Day have helped to communicate Nepal’s message on these crucial issues. Dialogues and discussions with development partners, thematic experts, community-based organisations, civil society, youth, private sector, and media have ensured a participatory and inclusive approach to Nepal’s preparation and positioning in COP26.
Raising Nepal’s ambition in COP26 and beyond
The Right Honorable Prime Minister of Nepal, Sher Bahadur Deuba, led the Nepali delegation for the World Leaders Summit. The negotiation team for the conference was led by the Honorable Minister of Forests and Environment, Mr Ramsahay Yadav, and included high-level dignitaries from key government ministries, civil society, and the media. We supported the Government of Nepal in communicating bilaterally to various donors and investors on the financing needs to deliver Nepal’s climate action plan. During the COP26, Nepal announced key commitments to i) Remain cumulatively ‘net zero carbon’ from 2022-2045 and become carbon negative after that; ii) Halt deforestation and increase forest cover to 45% by 2030, and iii) Ensure all vulnerable people are protected from climate change by 2030.
Together with the Government of Nepal, we organized a side event on Locally Led Adaptation to showcase Nepal’s LAPA initiatives and efforts to decentralise adaptation support and financing at the local level.
We are supporting the Government of Nepal in the fulfilment of commitments raised at COP26. Nepal is part of the Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development (GRID) initiative, which is aligned to deliver Nepal’s climate ambition articulated in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Long Term Strategy (LTS), and National Adaptation Plan (NAPs), which has the ultimate aim to promote the green growth opportunities in the context of the post-Covid-19 development priorities. Under the GRID, development partners have provided an estimate of up to $7.4 billion of current and near-term future funding. We are supporting in providing detailed analysis and recommendations on the GRID/Climate finance strategy for consideration by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) together with the National Planning Commission (NPC) and Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE).