What are the Problems and Issues related to Climate Change in Nepal?

Nepal has already started experiencing impact of the climate change and threats arises from geography, demography, socio economic and other factors. The rising temperature, melting glaciers, no rainfalls in monsoon, forests fire, decreasing water level shows that people have started facing the issues. Through the help of 100 questionnaire, this research tries to dig the ongoing issues and problems related to climate change in Nepal. The study is able to identify huge number of problems and issues that needs to be immediately addressed by understanding the need of massive restoration of ecosystem to save the Earth.

The overall problems and issues suggest that Nepal has not done huge difference and impact in the field of climate change and restoration of environment. These problems and issues have severe impact on sectors like water, energy, biodiversity, agriculture, and livelihoods of millions of populations. These problems need to be address immediately by the responsible bodies. Failure to address these problems at the earliest will have threat to Nepal’s economy and society.

Introduction:

Nepal has started facing the climate change threats arises from geography, demography, socio economic factors. The rising temperature, melting glaciers, no rainfalls in monsoon, forests fire, decreasing water level shows that people have started facing the issues (World Resources Report, 2012). This increasing uncertainty imply that there are still many challenges to come due to climate change. Responsible bodies as well as civil societies need to give extra effort to mitigate these threats other wise it will be too late to save this environment for future. Nepalese population is increasing trend.

The cities are more populated in growing condition due to different facilities and opportunities. The poverty rates are increasing, and human development index also shows that Nepal, as one of the poor countries. So, effect is more intense in Nepal than developed nations due to its diverse climatic conditions ranging from tropical to alpine. From Himalayas to Hills to Terai regions, there is dramatic variation in temperature. The climatic experts suggest that impact on climate change is intense in Nepal due to high elevation and complex topography. Due to these emerging dynamics of climate change, there will be flooding, aridity, drought, and forest fires regularly there is impact on food supply. There is concern of food security and livelihoods in Nepal.

Still Nepal is lacking in controlling mechanism. There is huge problems in the field of climate change in Nepal. There are many issues and problems that needs to be address in Nepal. Many development partners and organization has been working from more than decade on this, but outcome cannot be seen or measured due to lack of proper controlling and measuring mechanism.

Objective of Study

The main objective of the study is to find out what are the ongoing problems and issues in environmental saving in Nepal in broader aspect. Until and unless problems are identified, the solution can not be there. So, study tries to find out the issues and problems in every aspect so that suitable decision can be made in the best way. The study is based on questionnaire collection from the 100 responders to identify the ongoing issues and problems. All different professions have been tried to consider in the research so that diversified feedback is received.

Data presentation and Analysis

The problems and issues related to climate change in Nepal is given below. This has been collected from the 100 respondent’s view from different professionals.

• Wetland, forest, ponds, and rivers started becoming dry.
• Industrialists are not focusing on production of environment friendly product due to the high cost.
• Industrialists are not following best practices of the world that has been already researched.
• No encouragement from government side on Annual Environmental Saving Awards industrialist for saving the nature.
• Tax saving should be based on environment saving not based on investments, employments, or other factors.
• Government is not able to control the increasing population so eco-system is affected.
• Individual citizens, INGO, NGO, development partners, Industrialist are not working and coordinating together in solving the issues. Running Individuals programs.
• Shortage of visionary and constructive people on this field.
• University and educations system not focusing on environment saving contents in every fields.
• Co2 emission is high day by day in Nepal.
• Consumption and production is increasing day by day in Nepal increasing the environment.
• Mount Everest started melting but climbers and Himalayas are polluted day by day.
• No implementation of innovative environmental saving system and process.
• Researchers are always busy doing research not saving environment. Enough research been already done around the globe but enough controlling not done.
• No mass mobilization of humans being in saving environment just like people working towards covid-19.
• People thinking it’s too late for saving the eco system, but it is not too late. Still time is left.
• Cheapest and cost-effective way to be selected to restore the climate. Drop down the heavy investment idea.
• Priority to be given to controlling the eco-system them need to think about livelihood. Then clear connection can be seen.
• No such investment in turning the waste into values only few research been done.
• Immediate shift from linear economy to circular economy is required in Nepal.
• Scaling the rate of recycle is not happening in Nepal. This need to be done to control ecosystem, energy and pollution.
• Whole climate change, eco system, water rainfall, Co2 minimization, everything is interrelated. Multiple aspect to be investigated.
• No such problems solving mechanism for waste collection industry.
• Waste management companies to be given priority and should be tax exempted.
• Government should focus on saving the environment through whatever the means is possible.
• People are not aware about buying the products made from waste.
• No such awareness about buying climate friendly products. Only paper, metal and Plastic recycling is known but no information on electronics goods, glass etc.
• Lack of Regeneration and restoration of materials from electronic waste.
• We see huge collection of Phone, tablets, televisions, fridge, chargers are getting generated each year and more in recent years.
• No such technology upgradation policy of Nepal Government in steel industry, cement industry etc.
• No such massive activities are happening to restore the ground water.
• Environmental clearances are given even without seen or without giving obstruction in Nepal.
• Micro analysis on sectors wise is not yet conducted. Need to look into each and all sectors and subsectors to control the eco-system.
• Need of environmental protection index in Nepal just like share market index. Each day index to be shown and communicated to all.
• Most polluted city is with Nepal. Asking the population to stay inside the houses giving the holiday is not the solution.
• Environment should be part of public conversation to be presented each day in elections and news not the political communication.
• Carbon content is high in Nepalese land. Need to increase organic carbon content in land but no such programming is happening.
• No such practice of natural farming been compulsory in Nepal. Some striction mechanism is required to control on this.
• No such encouragement to the people asking to live with the nature. Need to go back to nature like campaigns in Nepal.
• It is already late to make decision on climate saving. We cannot make the huge investment at last hour so better started preparing from now.
• Nepal needs to set the example to the world. Climate change to be started from Mount Everest. But such activities are not happening, and people are not feeling its importance.
• Strict timelines and warnings is not given in every sectors and industries on environmental saving and protecting.
• Rebuilding the nature is not happening around us. People are not feeling this.
• University and education sectors need to develop global experts in climate change but not happening.
• Nepal can provide the good consultancy on climate change learning from the Himalayas to the world. New sectors to be search and invested for income and employment generation.
• Need to drastic increase in climate and environmental saving experts so we can create the global representative from Nepal.
• Concept of dedicated smart city development practices to be increased for saving the land and forest.
• People migrating and moving away from the disaster and most environmentally affected area. This is not the permanent solution.
• Need to focus on non-fossil-based energy in long term and for this, still enough homework is not by government.
• Ministry of renewable energy is in India but not in Nepal. Some dedicated ministry is required on this. Ministry of Environment and Forest should be separated due to focused objective.
• Solar and wind energy is far cheaper than from fossil fuel, but no such massive introduction is done.
• Environmental saving Subsidy is important in every sector in this early stage later we can remove this subsidy.
• 5evelopment of new Technology or introduction of new technology leads to massive pollution. Example: Internet Providers.
• There is no effective and clear strategic roadmap for controlling the pollution in Nepal. People have not realized this.
• No such Risk mitigating mechanism for controlling eco-system in Nepal. Need to see the alternative capital flow from the world.
• Billions are dollars are spending for saving the economy from covid-19. Cannot we spend the money in saving the environment as well? But this is not happening. Tax free import of electric vehicle need to be there for the replacement of old vehicle or exchange with old vehicles in Nepal.
• Huge gap in policy making and policy implementation in Nepal. Monitoring and controlling mechanism need to be activated.
• Compulsory implementation of Biodegradable fertilizers, Rainwater harvesting etc to be implemented to individual houses.
• Nepalese people are not aware about preserving existing assets. In the name of tourism and developments eco-system is affected.
• Our regulatory body is not demanding more and more recycling contents. No such compulsory and forceful act is there. Need to regulate this.
• No such work been started in Nepal on chemical and feed stock recycling and upcycling. Need to introduce such technologies with enough research.
• In hilly and terai regions we see huge burning of fires and woods by the farmers in their land after harvesting. Still people are not aware about its impact.
• Waste pickers in Nepal plays an important role in recycling of waste materials. Many people are dependent on waste collection in Nepal. No such work been done to mainstream them for better care and medical support to them.
• Government is not working on financing the climate in Nepal. Higher income country agrees to provide 100 billion per year to lower income countries to reduce green house gas emission. Need of banking products to finance the environmental saving projects at 1 percent interest.

The various issues and problems are highlighted above. The overall problems and issues suggest that Nepal has not done huge difference and impact in the field of climate change and restoration of environment. These problems and issues have severe impact on sectors like water, energy, biodiversity, agriculture, and livelihoods of millions of populations. These problems need to be address immediately by the responsible bodies. Failure to address these problems at the earliest will have threat to Nepal’s economy and society.

Conclusion

The study shows that climate change is the complex problems in Nepal. Uncertainty is high and no body knows what will happen when due to climate change. After 10 years, the society will feel more severe problems at Himalayas, hilly regions and Terai regions. Due to migrating population, greater agriculture stress and unplanned happening of disaster. There are many things still government and responsible bodies need to think for controlling. Our mechanism for controlling the disaster need to function properly for this. When it comes about climate change, the technology should be shared. There should not be patented or rights for better technology because we are saving the environment.

This research has identified huge number of ongoing issues related to climate saving in Nepal that needs to be address by responsible bodies. The problems are massive so need to immediately work on restoration of ecosystem to control the situation from today. Result oriented adaptative plans need to be developed with reliable evidence of progress and success.