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At a time when only six years are left to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs), the global efforts towards sustainable development have witnessed severe setbacks resulting in crisis.

A UN report released yesterday asserted that financial challenges are behind the present sustainable development crisis, while countries are not only slow off the mark but also deviated to realize 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The 'Financing for Sustainable Development Report, 2024' prepared by the UN Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development, stated, "Countries are off track on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with around half of the 140 SDG targets for which sufficient data is available deviating from the required path."

According to the report, it is a present projection that almost 600 million people- more than half of them women- will languish in extreme poverty in 2030.

Importantly, the UN report has pointed to a dearth of finance to cope with pressing problems such as the climate crisis along with SDGs. "The unmet financing needs for SDGs and climate action are estimated to be in the trillions of dollars annually," the report reminded.

Moreover, acute financing needs are seen in developing countries in particular, which the report argues, "They face higher costs of capital and significantly worse terms of access to financing. Due to misaligned incentives, both public and private actors still invest in brown activities and have not yet fully aligned their decision-making and financing with the SDGs."

The technological change, especially digitalization has been mentioned as a factor affecting the financial area. Fragmentation of the global economy is taken as an equally increasing threat. The new trends, despite creating some opportunities for development, are major stressors in national and the international financial fronts.

It is worth noting that the SDG Summit in September 2019 had called for 'Decade of Action', promising to channel financing and boost national implementation along with the reinforcement of institutions to realize the goals. But, the global health crisis caused by COVID-19 and subsequent effects on the world economy resulted in slow progress toward this end.

Chair of the Inter-agency Task Force, and Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, UN, Li Junhua, observed, "Financing challenges—including an investment crisis, driven by a sluggish global economy and tight financing conditions—have hampered our progress, preventing the urgently needed investment push in the SDGs."

He, however, sees opportunity in the challenges, arguing, "Amid these challenges there lies opportunity. If we can address the big financing challenges of today— close the growing financing gaps, fix the international financial architecture, and create enabling environments at all levels to finance the ambitious transformations we need—then we can still succeed. It will be difficult, but it is doable."

To this report, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres underlined, "Our proposed SDG Stimulus of USD$500 billion per year of additional investments in sustainable development and climate action includes concrete steps that global leaders can take right now."

The UN defines 'sustainable development' as: 'Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.' It underlines the need for concerted efforts so that an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future would be created for the people and planet.

After wrapping up the millennium development goals (MDGs), the UN member states had launched 17 SDGs in 2015. Since then, every UN member has been setting targets and implementing action plans and monitoring and evaluating these at national level, and sharing achievements at regional and global forums.

The national budgets and periodic plans are aligned with SDGs in order for their better localization.

The 5Ps focused by the SDGs are- people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubhir Mahaseth inaugurated the charging station established in the premises of Sajha Yatayat in Pulchowk, Lalitpur.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Minister Mahaseth said that the government has trusted the Sajha Yatayat in the expansion of public transport, according to HimalKhabar. 

He expressed his hope that the service of Sajha will be more effective in the future.

Speaking at the same program, Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Balram Adhikari said that the Sajha Yatayat has been established as an organization which has won the trust of people since the past.

He also hoped that Sajha’s electric journey would be sustainable and long-term.

On the occasion, Sajha Yatayat Chairman Kanakmani Dixit said that forty electric buses and a charging station were brought into operation with Rs 3 billion provided by the government in the first phase as per the policy to spend the amount in three phases.

He also informed that there are 24 charging mechanisms consuming 1.2 megawatt electricity in the charging station installed in the premises of Sajha Yatayat.

Similarly, saying there is a lack of space for the buses to be brought in the future, Dixit said that they are coordinating with 14 municipalities of the Kathmandu Valley to expand charging stations.

He said that the country will witness significant changes if the public vehicles are transformed into electric. Chairman Dixit further added that the public vehicles will not be expanded in Nepal without participation of the private sector.

He went on to say that the Sajha has started a process to learn technology by converting diesel buses into electric in collaboration with Solution Plan.

Meanwhile, he announced to give two buses of Sajha to the Pokhara International Airport.

Currently, the Sajha has been operating 111 buses including 71 diesel buses with 50-passenger capacity and 40 electric buses.

Dixit added that the Sajha has been planning to bring a 12-meter-long bus in the near future and to expand the service between Kathmandu and provinces under ‘provincial service’ like in the past.

Also speaking at the program, Lalitpur Metropolitan City Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan said that Lalitpur has made a huge investment in Sajha Yatayat after Kathmandu Metropolitan City. He said that the Metropolitan City has a plan to expand the bus services soon in the inner roads.

Likewise, Nepal Electricity Authority Managing Director Kulman Ghising said that the electric vehicles have replaced fossil fuel consumption of around Rs 20 million per day.

“The operation cost will be reduced from 10 to 15 percent if the public vehicles are converted to electric,” Ghising said.

He said that around Rs 5 billion will be saved if the public vehicles are transformed into electric.

The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, has shown willingness to strengthen cooperation with SAARC.

The UN Secretary General expressed the desire of the UN to strengthen cooperation with SAARC, which represents the 'Large Chunk of Global Population'. He expressed it during a courtesy call  Secretary General of SAARC, Golam Sarwar, had paid to him at UN Headquarters in New York on April 8.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Sarwar appreciated UN Secretary General for UN’s steadfast commitment and support to SAARC, which is an Observer Organization of the UN since 2004, according to SAARC secretariat, Kathmandu.

The visiting Secretary General of SAARC had extensive discussions on further strengthening of relations between SAARC and UN in multiple areas of mutual interest especially climate change, food security and renewable energy collaborations.

While highlighting that SAARC has signed Memorandums of Understating (MoUs) with UN agencies including UNDP, FAO, UNEP, UNISDR, UNESCAP, UNTAD, UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPA and UNWOMEN, Ambassador Sarwar further stated that several of these MoUs need to be updated taking into account the present context in order to augment existing ties between two parties.

Given the potential of reinforcing project-based collaboration between both organizations, Ambassador Sarwar proposed a joint meeting of the SAARC secretariat and UN agencies in Kathmandu at the SAARC secretariat, in the near future as a brainstorming session to identify forthcoming areas for further collaboration.

UN Secretary General Guterres welcomed the proposal and emphasized on the elevation of the cooperation between SAARC and the UN. He also instantly instructed his office to connect the SAARC secretariat with relevant officials of the UN Headquarters for the sake of effective Sectoral Cooperation.

In a bid to boost effectiveness and sustainability of the secretariat, Ambassador Sarwar explored the avenues for capacity building opportunities for the officials of the SAARC secretariat.

Moreover, UN Secretary General Guterres assured continued UN support and assistance toward SAARC and both dignitaries during the meeting agreed to work closely to further enhance the existing ties between SAARC and UN in the coming years, reads a press statement. 

Nepali lyricist Lokraj Adhikari has been nominated for the prestigious 6th ISSA Awards.

The awards, organized by the International Singer and Songwriters Association (ISSA), will be presented during a ceremony to be held in Atlanta, US, on August 24.

Adhikari has appealed for votes from all Nepali music lovers. Likewise, the Nepal Lyricist Association and Nepal Music Industries Association have also urged everyone to vote for Adhikari.

Electronic voting began on April 2. According to the association, one needs to visit the webpage www.issasongwriters.com, click on the '2024 Vote' menu, select the option to vote for international competitors, go to the 'International Male Songwriter of the Year' category, and place a tick mark next to the name to cast a vote. Votes can be cast from computers, laptops, tablets, or mobile phones.

The organizers published the list of nominees in various 46 categories last Monday. Adhikari is the only Nepali nominated in the 'Male Songwriter' category. Along with Adhikari, there are 68 nominees from various countries such as the Netherlands, Greece, Ghana, Ireland, Iceland, Russian Federation, Denmark, Sweden, Malawi, Canada, Australia, UK, Brazil, Italy, South Africa, Philippines, Uganda, Israel, Japan, and Germany in this category.

Last year, Indian singers SP Balasubrahmanyam and SJ Jananiy won the Bronze Award in the Duet category from Asia. In previous editions, there had been no participation from any Asian country.

Adhikari has said that he considers this nomination as the representation of the entire Nepali-speaking songwriting community on the international stage. The organizers have stated that the 68 nominees will be shortlisted to 20 on May 2.

According to Adhikari, all nominees have been invited by the organizers to participate in the red carpet event.

Adhikari has also urged everyone from home and abroad to vote and help Nepal make it to the top 20.

Songwriter Adhikari's songs like 'Timle Parai Thanepachi', 'Rupai Mohani', 'Baja Bajaudai', 'Marchu Baru Chhatpatima', 'Hepni Malai', 'Bhannuhunthyo Ba Le', 'O O Mero Paran', 'Feri Ek Huna', 'Ghankaideu Madalu', and 'Rupauli Rani' are popular among audiences.

One hundred and two people have died in fire incidents in one year's period (from April 14, 2024 to April 3, 2024).

More than 3,795 fire incidents were reported in various places of the country during this period, resulting in the casualties, stated the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA).

Four thousand seven hundred and twenty-five families have been affected due to the fire incidents in the same period, NDRRMA spokesperson Gomadevi Chemjong said.

According to her, the fires damaged properties worth more than Rs 2.33 billion.

Spokesperson Chemjong said although incidents of fire decreased as it rained in the meantime, the fire incidents have started spreading again warranting precaution.

The highest casualties due to disasters this year are from fire incidents, excepting the casualties resulting from the Jajarkot earthquake.

Forty-three people were killed due to lightning while 20 of snake bite, 12 of avalanche, 43 of wild animals attacks and five of wildfires during the same period, according to the NDRRMA data.

Four hundred and seventy-seven people have been killed in various disaster incidents since April 14 last year.

Eight people including seven Nepalis died in a road accident at Betalghat in Nainital district of India on Monday night.

According to Sub-Inspector at Betalghat Police Post, Anish Ansari, the deceased have been identified as Bishram Chaudhary, Dhiraj Chaudhary, Antaram Chaudhary, Binod Chaudhary, Tilak Chaudhary, Udayram Chaudhary and Gopal Basnet.

Based on the documents found with them, the seven Nepalis were from Babai of the then Bheri zone, according to the police. 

The accident took place when a rented vehicle fell some 150 meters down the road while loading goods. They had been working there to lay pipelines along the roadside around the incident site.

A local driver along with seven Nepalis lost their lives in the accident, he shared. All the bodies have been kept at Nainital Government Hospital.

Similarly, Shanti Chaudhary, wife of Dhiraj Chaudhary, and Janak Chaudhary were injured in the incident.  Sub-Inspector Ansari said police personnel as well as state disaster response teams were deputed to carry out rescue operations.

Air pollution of Kathmandu Valley has increased following the forest fires that occurred across the country for the past few days.

Based on the Air Quality Index (AQI), Kathmandu has been ranked as the topmost polluted city globally this afternoon, recording an AQI of 200.

Deputy Director General of the Department of Environment, Tara Dutta Bhatta, said there is an effect of forest fires in the air of different cities including Kathmandu.

"The air pollution of Kathmandu had also increased a few weeks ago. It becomes more polluted today," he mentioned, adding the air pollution would increase until forest fire comes under control.

Similarly, Disaster Management expert Dr Dharma Raj Upreti, said an AQI value of up to 50 is considered good while 51-100 moderate, 100-150 unhealthy and it is highly hazardous if measured 150-200.

Likewise, AQI value from 201 to 300 is considered very unhealthy while 300-400 dangerous and 401-450 very dangerous.  

Air Quality Management Action Plan for Kathmandu Valley, 2076, reads that an AQI of more than 300 is considered as a disaster. It has been mentioned in the action plan not to burn garbage, to increase the use of brooms and vacuums to clean the roads to stop such type of disaster as well as to issue public notices to children, senior citizens and patients to take special precautions.

In the National Environment Policy, 2076 BS, it is mentioned that national standards related to prevention of water, air, soil, sound, electricity, magnetic waves, radioactive radiation, and hazardous chemical pollution will be prepared and implemented in order to reduce pollution.

According to the strategy, air, water and sound quality will be mapped by establishing and operating quality measurement centers in areas at risk of pollution including major cities and industrial areas.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged diplomatic missions in Nepal and the development partners to make the Nepal Investment Summit 2024 a success. The government is organizing the Summit on the 28th and 29th of this month.

Addressing the meeting of diplomatic missions and development partners in Nepal organized at Singha Durbar today, Prime Minister said the role of development partners and diplomatic missions in Nepal is important to establish Nepal as the destination of investment.

"We expect active participation in investment summit as well as support of development partners", he shared.

Stating that projects of province and local governments have given equal priority along with ministries of federal government, the Prime Minister clarified that the government is committed to ensure the environment to revise laws in order to create investment-friendly environment, procedural reforms and not to allow any obstruction for investors during project period. 

"The summit will provide a platform to connect Nepali production and service to the global market as well as make stakeholders including investors, development partners and financial institutions easy to unite, to seek opportunity and to promote long-term partnership," he said.

The government of Nepal was ready to provide any type of support needed to incumbent and possible investors, he underscored.