The Non State Actors in Climate Change diplomacy in Nepal

Non state actors are all the reaming forces except the state fighting against raising awareness about climates change. The force includes different stakeholders’ like public pressure groups, environment clubs, INGOs, Local NGOs etc. Most prominently in Nepal the INGOs are very active in raising the issues of climate change and its effects. The major of the organizations working in the field are given below:

World Wide Fund (WWF) Nepal
WWF is working to restore and reconnect natural landscapes across the Eastern Himalayas. By 2012, they aim to develop a shared vision with the governments of Nepal for the conservation and sustainable development of the Eastern Himalayas.World Wide Fund, has been actively working in Nepal for raising awareness.
Famed Nepalese climber Apa Sherpa reached the summit of the planet’s highest mountain on 21 May, 2009 and unfurled a WWF banner saying: "Stop Climate Change – Let the Himalayas Live!"As part of the Climate for Life Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of climate change impacts in the Himalayas, the expedition reminds world leaders of their responsibility towards preserving the region as a global heritage. And it calls on them to reach a global climate deal at Copenhagen this December.

International centre for integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
ICIMOD Nepal has been successfully working in the field of raising awareness in the Himalayan region where the changes have been prominent. It has organized different campaigns
Children express their concerns about climate change and its impact on their environment through art and letter writing competitions, - June, 2009

Himalaya – Changing Landscapes photo in Germany exhibition showcasing the prominent changes in the Himalayan region, - June 2009

Holding different international research for collecting data’s and working in the field to create awareness. More than 40 representatives from global conservation organizations in 15 countries met at a workshop organized by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, Nepal, to discuss a strategy for coordinated research on global change in mountain biosphere reserves, and especially the possibilities for implementing the ‘Global Change in Mountain Regions’ research strategy (GLOCHAMORE) at different sites around the world, particularly in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region, -Nov 2008

The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
IUCN Nepal has been celebrating Environment Day every year, to renew public commitment towards the environment conservation and also help involve social sectors towards channeling environmental values and broadening public support for the cause. Every year the Organization celebrates the environment day to spread awareness about the increasing environment problems
The IUCN in collaboration with National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), WWF Nepal and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), will conduct scoping visits, organize multi-stakeholder consultations to review the draft constitutional provisions, and finalize the constitutional provisions on environmental rights. The project aims at mainstreaming environmental rights and sustainable development principles that represent the interests of all Nepali citizens, with particular attention to those of women, poor and marginalized people into the new constitution of Nepal.

IUCN had recently hosted the 4th Asia Regional Conservation forum in Nepal from September 10-14 2007 and I had covered the news. The regional conference covered the issues of growing energy demand in the region requiring more burning of fossil fuels and increase in greenhouse gas emission in the region. The conference had submitted it drafts and agenda to the related ministry but with the orthodox bureaucracy, it was stocked in pile with the rest.

A lot of activities and things are happening in Nepal regarding raising awareness of climate change. Most of them are either focused in spending their grant money or allocated money but to a level the people have been reached and awareness is flowing in a steadily way. But on real grounds, Nepal face turmoil due to lack of proper environment policy and the orthodox system that lacks effectiveness in monitoring and evaluating these INGOs and NGOs in regard to their work and reports forwarded by them.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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Climate Change Negotiating delegation in Nepal

In Nepal the Ministry of Environment, Science & Technology(MoEST) is the national coordinator which deals for and against the issues, problems and awareness of environment. Though, the ministry receives a small amount from the yearly budget but the Ministry’s work has been limited to an extent.
The Ministry has adopted high priority over the vehicle pollution and its emission issue where recently it initiated the banned of two stoke tempos’ which emitted a lot of green house gases from the valley. Apart from that the ministry has also facilitated the use of the Electric vehicles (EV) known as the Safa Tempos. More or less, there are things happing where the ministry holds rallies and awareness campaign on environment day focusing the various aspects of pollution and conservation, but is limited and questionable.
Facilitating the environment, the Ministry in coordination with the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation has established various programs of community forest and tree plantation which to an extent have given successful results in raising awareness about environment in the locals. Amid the limited resources, orthodox system and bureaucracy, this seems more than what could be expected.
Regarding the international organization, basically there are more than a dozen of international organizations working in the field; most prominently the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), World wide fund (WWF) and IUCN are the basic organizations that work for the cause. The big INGOs with huge grants and funds, hosts various meeting and conferences in 5 star hotels where the donation money is waste in lavish parties. Contemplating the scenario only a negligible amount of money is spent on the real cause. These International organizations highlight their concern over the growing environmental problems within the reports and presentations which are just limited within conferences and meetings. On real ground nothing checks in where Million of dollars are being wasted in the name of awareness.
In one of my experience in a discussion program on climate change and its affects, one of the participant state that, “Nepal being a small country stands no point in the international arena. Our voice stand no where and our contribution towards green house gases is also very less but reality is global warming has hit us hard where physical evidences are clearly visible. In fact raising awareness in Nepal has no point because it would not effect in any way where our voice do no count in the international arena.”
The discussion ended in a controversial way but reality is do we need awareness because till the time powerful countries like US, and UK realize that their emission has affected the atmosphere and till the time they take action against it, I think raising awareness in somewhat like treating nose when u have a tooth ache.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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The IUCN 4th Asia Regional Conservation forum

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) organized "Synergies for a Sustainable Asia" the 4th Asia Regional Conservation Forum at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu from September 10-14, 2007. The conference majorly focused on generating dialogue on critical environmental conservation and development issues highlighting the impacts of emerging socio-economic trends on regional environment in the region.

The conference was participated by around 400 representatives from 30 Asian countries of IUCN's membership, commission, secretariat, and council in Asia where the participants discussed on innovative conservation approaches, shared regional experience and build partnership for future action.

Girija Prasad Koirala, the current Prime Minister of Nepal inaugurated the conference where Dev Prasad Gurung, Minister for Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation chaired the event among distinguished guests from business world, tourism industry, expatriates community, foreign diplomats, participants, media person's etc.

Speaking at the inauguration, Girija Prasad Koirala, Prime Minister of Nepal said, " Nature and people have a close relation and they go hand in hand. In current scenario when we look at the context of globalization, nuclear weapons and deforestation issue, we humans have paid tragic consequences for our doing. Moreover, people harm the nature for their selfish motives where it waits for its turn and strikes in the form of flood, earth quake, land slide, drought etc endangering the whole existence of human race."

He opined, At first people should be educated, in-fact the awareness should be raised from early stage where children should be taught about the conservation topic which would help them to near themselves with nature and can be used as an effective approach.

"Nepal has beauty but we should not forget it has poverty which also needs to be addressed ", said Koirala.

The prime minister showed his solidarity to reinforce the partnership on conservation and sustainable development based on the democratic principles of cooperation, shared responsibility and mutual benefit to formulate appropriate strategies for a better Asia.

Likewise, Dev Prasad Gurung, Minister for Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation said, "Our country is endowed with a rich biological as well as cultural and economical diversity. In-fact addressing the issues of biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihood is a primary need of today. The new developments in view of the conference would provide exciting backdrop to address and to focus on some of the key issues related to the topic."

On Tuesday, September 11, the conference overviewed on the proposed IUCN global and Asia regional programmes for the 2009 –2012 where panel of expert highlighted the sessions. Moreover, two sessions emphasized on examining the sustainable development options, followed by a session on alternative development paradigms focusing on the integration of social and ecological perspective in development process. The session also highlighted case studies of China, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Thailand and further the day was ended with session of IUCN 's new initiative on private sector engagement in sustainable development.

On Wednesday, September 12, the third day highlighted on issue including biodiversity loss, climate change and energy crisis and poverty. The first session of the day showcased the conservation issues with suitable examples in the region. Similarly exemplifying, it also concentrated on the financial and economical means to help conservation and copy mechanism to address the climate change issue.

The second session primarily dealt with the conserving biodiversity issue highlighting the priority of the theme as the corner stone of IUCN's work on biodiversity. It also directed its goals towards examining broadly the challenges and opportunity of IUCN.

The human and ecological relationship was focused in the third session lighting the issue of increased vulnerability of poor to disasters. Similarly, the session also encompassed the issue of emerging climate change and energy crises by creating awareness about the growing energy demand and green house gas emissions in the region.

Likewise, the last session focused on promoting participation of marginal and vulnerable groups in conservation processes highlighting the linkage between human and sustainable ecosystem management. The session generated exchange of information, best practice and lessons learnt mechanism for participants.

On the final day, the closing session presented a summary of the technical sessions held during the forum where Dev Prasad Gurung, Minister for Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation presented awards and letter of appreciation to the participants.

By Shreedeep Rayamajhi

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