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Nepal is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, ranking as the 10th most affected country globally according to the Climate Risk Index 2021. The Global Vulnerability Index 2019 also indicates that Nepal ranks fourth globally, experiencing rapid glacier retreat, landslides, and flooding. 

Despite this, Nepal contributes minimally to global climate change. As noted in Nepal’s first Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) report in 2011, the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are only about 0.027 percent of total global emissions.

This highlights the importance of climate justice. The principles of climate justice emphasize that those who contributed the least to climate change should not bear its costs disproportionately, ensuring that climate actions are equitable and just, especially for those most affected yet least responsible for climate change. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) framework, climate justice involves equity and common but differentiated responsibilities, recognizing the varying capabilities and responsibilities of different countries.

In Nepal, climate justice is a relatively new concept within climate change policy. The focus has mainly been on adaptation and mitigation, with climate justice issues often limited to campaign slogans about compensation from developed nations and the polluter pays principle.

To achieve climate justice and address these challenges, Nepal needs robust legal frameworks. However, Nepal has not even a Climate Change Act yet. Experts suggest that a dedicated climate change act is essential to ensure proper support for vulnerable communities and their representation in policy processes.

Without a dedicated Act, how is Nepal addressing climate change? Here is an explainer of Nepal’s major climate change-related acts, policies, and regulations.

Supreme Court order

On 25 Dec 2018, the Supreme Court directed the government to enact a new climate change law to address the effects of climate change, reduce fossil fuel consumption, and promote low carbon technologies. The court determined that a new law was necessary for Nepal to fulfill its international obligations under the Paris Agreement and its domestic responsibilities. It deemed the Environmental Protection Act of 1997 inadequate for addressing the need for climate change mitigation and adaptation measures. Despite this directive, the government has not yet made an integrated climate change Act. Although the Nepal Law Commission drafted a climate change Act, it has not been enacted.

Nevertheless, after the Court’s order, the government passed the Environment Protection Act of 2019 and the Forests Act of 2019, both aimed at addressing climate mitigation and adaptation measures.

The Environment Protection Act of 2019 includes provisions for Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and mitigation planning. It stipulates that adaptation plans must prioritize vulnerable groups such as women, persons with disabilities, children, senior citizens, economically disadvantaged communities, and those in vulnerable geographical areas. The Act also establishes an environmental protection fund to manage climate change and other environmental issues.

Meanwhile, the Forest Act of 2019 was formulated to manage and utilize various types of forests in Nepal, including state-managed forests, community forests, collaborative forests, leasehold forests, religious forests, and private forests. Its provisions encompass benefits from carbon sequestration, emission reduction, and climate change adaptation as determined by the government.

Local government and risk reduction

The Local Government Operation Act, 2017 includes provisions for disaster management, environment conservation and protection, land management, and natural resource management as a joint responsibility of the federal and provincial governments. However, the Act overlooks special attention to climate change risks and necessary adaptation measures. Local governments have an environment and disaster management unit, but due to poor capacity, providing timely and effective responses for vulnerable communities (such as the poor, Dalit, marginalized, and indigenous people) during disasters is challenging.

Similarly, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, 2017 provides a legislative framework for managing disaster risks, including those exacerbated by climate change. It emphasizes preparedness, response, and recovery strategies. The Act establishes the District Disaster Management Committee and the Local Disaster Management Committee, which have functions and powers related to relief, recovery, rehabilitation, and resettlement. However, the Act is silent on issues of tenure security and tenure rights. Additionally, it includes provisions for a disaster and emergency fund to support disaster relief and response activities.

Climate change and environment policy

The National Climate Change Policy, 2019, is Nepal’s primary document on climate change, replacing the National Climate Change Policy, 2011. It aims to incorporate climate change considerations into all government policies, strategies, plans, and programs across various levels and sectors to promote low-carbon development and a green economy. The policy outlines agriculture-based adaptation programs targeting poor, marginalized, landless, indigenous people, vulnerable households, women, and persons with disabilities. However, it does not recognize women and marginalized groups as agents of change. It mandates that at least 80 percent of the climate finance received from international mechanisms should be used for local-level climate change projects.

The National Environment Policy, 2019, focuses primarily on addressing pollution and other environmental issues. It emphasizes environmental justice by applying penalties to environmental polluters (following the principle that polluters must pay) and compensating affected individuals and communities.

Net zero emission strategy

Nepal's Long-term Strategy for Net Zero Emission, 2021, aims for the country to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. The strategy emphasizes maximizing clean energy sources such as hydropower, solar energy, and biogas; decarbonizing the transportation sector; promoting sustainable agriculture; increasing and maintaining forest cover; and enhancing international cooperation on climate change mitigation and adaptation. It reaffirms the principles of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Leave No One Behind (LNOB) during the implementation phase.

NDC and adaptation plan

The Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), 2020, explicitly targets gender sensitivity in both mitigation and adaptation components, identifying Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) as a crosscutting area. It mandates “equal access to women, children, youth, indigenous people, and marginalized groups during participation, decision-making, and benefit-sharing.” By 2030, it requires all local governments to prepare and implement climate adaptation plans focusing on women, differently-abled individuals, children, senior citizens, youth, and indigenous people.

The National Adaptation Plan 2021-2050 outlines short-term priority actions until 2025, medium-term priority programs until 2030, and long-term adaptation strategic goals until 2050. These aim to help Nepal better integrate actions and strategies to address climate risk and vulnerability. The plan recognizes women, indigenous people, and persons with disabilities as “vulnerable to current and projected climate hazards.”

L&D framework

In response to the Paris Agreement and the increase in extreme events within the country, the government developed the National Framework on Climate Induced Loss and Damage (L&D) in 2021. This framework presents a comprehensive strategy to address the impacts of climate change on the nation. It provides financial support, including insurance and compensation schemes, as well as technical and institutional assistance to communities adversely affected by climate change. The framework demonstrates Nepal’s commitment to tackling climate change challenges and protecting its people and environment from the adverse effects of climate-induced loss and damage.

A research paper published by ActionAid Nepal and conducted by the Environment and Engineering Research Center (EERC) indicates that key elements of climate justice are either missing or not clearly integrated into Nepal’s current climate-related laws and policies. The paper highlights the prevalent belief that poor, vulnerable, and marginalized communities should receive disaster preparedness training and support for rescue, relief, rehabilitation, and resettlement. However, these groups are often seen merely as recipients of support rather than as individuals or communities with rights to protection from climate-induced disasters.

The research paper highlights several challenges in implementing and enforcing climate-related laws and policies. One major issue is the presence of competing legal provisions, with overlapping jurisdictions among federal, provincial, and local governments, especially in areas like disaster management. Additionally, inadequate inter-ministry coordination at both horizontal levels (such as between conservation and development ministries at the federal level) and vertical levels (federal, provincial, and local) hinders progress. The complex nature of carbon emission mitigation and climate adaptation demands synchronized efforts, which are often lacking.

Capacity gaps at subnational levels further complicate the situation, as provincial and local governments frequently lack the necessary understanding and resources to address climate vulnerability and its impacts on agriculture, food security, public health, infrastructure, livelihoods, and forests. The issue is compounded by data deficiency, with Nepal suffering from a lack of updated and aggregated data on climate-induced hazards, loss, and damage. Overlapping jurisdictions can lead to scattered data across different levels of government, impeding comprehensive national-level data collection and analysis.

Inadequate budget allocation and climate finance management also pose significant challenges. Competing national priorities result in insufficient funding for climate initiatives, with a heavy reliance on international sources. The late climate budget tagging exercise and a lack of prioritization based on climate impact evaluation further weaken climate finance management.

Climate finance

Addressing climate change effectively requires legislative frameworks that facilitate adequate financing mechanisms for climate justice, particularly in adaptation and mitigation activities. However, several legislative gaps hinder the mobilization, allocation, and utilization of climate finance. The current legislative framework often lacks clarity on funding priorities and the distribution of climate funds, and it does not clearly define funding for priority areas and vulnerable populations.

Key financial funds and mechanisms established by law include the Environmental Protection Fund, created under the Environment Protection Act, 2019, and the Disaster and Emergency Fund, provisioned by the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, 2017. Additional sources of climate finance come from national budget allocations, international climate finance through UNFCCC mechanisms, and climate-related budgets secured through bilateral relations and multilateral organizations, such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai concluded with a historic agreement on the operationalization of funding arrangements to address loss and damage. Commitments to address loss and damage started pouring in immediately after the decision was finalized, accumulating over $661m to date. But can Nepal benefit from these funds?

Lawmaker Madhav Sapkota notes that Nepal still lacks about nine essential Acts, which complicates the process of securing loss and damage (L&D) funds. He suggests establishing informal forums such as a ‘Climate Parliament’, an international cross-party network of legislators focused on combating climate change and promoting renewable energy. He points out that neighboring countries like India, Bangladesh, and Bhutan are already part of the Climate Parliament.

Development of climate change legislation in Nepal

• 1992: UNFCCC conference in Brazil
• 2005: Kyoto Protocol
• 2010: Readiness preparation proposal for REED
• 2010: National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)
• 2011: Local Adaptation Plans for Action (LAPA) framework
• 2011: Climate change policy
• 2012: Rio+ 20
• 2015: Paris Agreement
• 2016: Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
• 2018: National REED+ strategy
• 2019: Climate change policy 2019
• 2019: Revised LAPA framework
• 2019: Climate change budget code
• 2020: Second NDC
• 2021: National Adaptation Plan (NAP)
• 2022: National framework on climate induced L&D
• 2022: Strategy for net-zero emission
• 2022: Assessment of climate financing allocation
• 2023: NAP 2021-2050

On Monday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli celebrated a significant milestone for the Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhes Fast Track project, marking the completion of the Ghattepakha-Dhedre Tunnel breakthrough. This expressway is a crucial project for the nation, signifying both pride and strategic importance.

The ceremony took place at Dhedre in Bakaiya Rural Municipality-12, highlighting the 1.728-kilometer tunnel’s completion. This follows the earlier completion of a 1.653-kilometer tunnel segment towards Nijgadh-Kathmandu. With these milestones, the tunnels under package 11 are now fully opened. Prime Minister Oli officially marked the occasion by activating a switch to signify the tunnel’s breakthrough.

The Nepali Army is overseeing the implementation of this project. During the event, Chief of the Army Staff, Prabhu Ram Sharma, briefed the Prime Minister on the progress and challenges faced. He noted that the project is 35.98 percent complete.

Progress has also been made on other tunnel sections. The 1.612-kilometer Lendanda tunnel towards Nijgadh-Kathmandu and the 1.633-kilometer tunnel towards Kathmandu-Nijgadh are both finished. The Mahadevtar Tunnel, measuring 3.322 kilometers towards Nijgadh-Kathmandu, has reached 2.29 kilometers in completion, while the 3.386-kilometer segment towards Kathmandu-Nijgadh is at 2.88 kilometers. Both tracks are expected to open within a year.

The fast track project is divided into 13 packages. Of the 89 bridges planned, 85 are in various stages of construction. However, progress on the remaining four bridges, located in Khokana, Lalitpur, is delayed due to land acquisition issues.

The Nepali Army aims to complete the expressway by mid-April 2027. The road will stretch 70.977 kilometers from Khokana, Lalitpur to Nijgadh, Bara, with widths of 25 meters in hilly areas and 27 meters in the Tarai. Six tunnels totaling 10.399 kilometers will be built, including:

• Devichaur: 1 km
• Sisautar: 0.39 km
• Chandram Bhir: 2.25 km
• Mahadevdanda: 3.355 km
• Dhedre: 1.691 km
• Lendanda: 1.623 km

Additionally, 89 bridges covering 12.885 kilometers will be constructed. The project will also feature rest stops in Budune and interchanges and toll plazas in Khokana, Budune, and Nijgadh.

On 4 May 2017, the Council of Ministers assigned the construction management responsibility to the Nepali Army. The foundation stone was laid by then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on 28 May 2017, in Nijgadh. The project transitioned from the Road Department to the Nepali Army on 11 Aug 2017.

The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Devendra Dahal, Defence Minister Manveer Rai, Forest and Environment Minister Ain Bahadur Shahi, and the Ambassadors of China and South Korea to Nepal.

A Saurya Airlines passenger plane crashed during takeoff at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of 18 people.

The plane, carrying two crew members and 17 others (15 of whom were airline technical staff), was en route to Pokhara for a comprehensive maintenance check known as a “C-check.” This inspection, conducted every 18-24 months or after a specific number of flight hours, involves a thorough examination of an aircraft’s systems, components, and structures, typically taking several weeks.

Among the deceased were four senior officers from Saurya Airlines: Sagar Acharya, Ashwin Niroula, Yagya Prasad Poudyal, and Dilip Verma. Also on board were Priza Khatiwada, wife of Saurya IT officer Manu Raj Sharma, and their four-year-old son, Adhiraj, who all perished in the crash.

The other victims were identified as Sushant Katuwal (co-pilot), Amit Man Maharjan, Sudip Lal Joshi, Sarbesh Marasini, Shyam Bindukar, Navaraj Ale, Rajaram Acharya, Uddhab Puri, Santosh Mahato, Punya Ratna Saahi, and Aref Reda, a Yemeni national. All were staff members of Saurya Airlines. The bodies were recovered by the afternoon and transported to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj for postmortem examinations.

Captain Manish Ratna Shakya, the pilot, was the sole survivor. He was rescued from the wreckage and rushed to a nearby hospital with injuries to his eyes but was reported to be out of danger.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), the aircraft (CRJ 200, Registration: 9N-AME) took off from Tribhuvan International Airport at 11:11 am from Runway 02. Moments after takeoff, the plane veered off to the right of the runway, resulting in the crash. Eyewitness accounts and video footage on social media showed the plane catching fire upon impact.

Nepal’s aviation safety record is poor, with numerous fatal light plane and helicopter crashes over the years. The European Commission has banned all Nepali carriers from its airspace due to safety concerns. Nepal’s airports are among the most challenging in the world, with runways flanked by snow-capped peaks and difficult approaches, even for experienced pilots. Rapidly changing weather conditions in the mountains add to the hazards.

The last major commercial flight accident in Nepal occurred in Jan 2023, when a Yeti Airlines flight crashed while landing in Pokhara, killing all 72 on board. This was the deadliest accident since 1992 when a Pakistan International Airlines plane crashed near Kathmandu, killing all 167 people on board. Earlier that year, a Thai Airways flight also crashed near the same airport, killing 113 people.

In 2019, a US-Bangla Airlines flight from Bangladesh crashed at Tribhuvan airport, killing 51 people while 20 survived. An investigation confirmed that the plane was misaligned with the runway and its pilot was disoriented when the plane crashed.

In 2015, a Turkish Airlines jet skidded off a slippery runway while landing in dense fog at Tribhuvan International Airport. The plane was carrying 238 people, but there were no serious injuries.

The government has formed a five-member probe committee to investigate the crash. An emergency Cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening established the committee, led by former Director General of CAAN, Ratish Chandra Lal Suman. The committee includes Deepu Raj Jwarchan, operation director of Nepal Airlines Corporation; Sudip Bhattarai, head of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at IOE, Pulchowk; Sanjay Adhikari, board member of Shree Airlines; and Mukesh Dangol, member secretary at Air Traffic Control, CAAN. The committee has been tasked with investigating the crash and submitting its report within 45 days.

The government also declared a day of mourning on Thursday and ordered the national flag to be flown at half-mast.

Vishnu Kumar Agarwal is the Managing Director of the MAW Group of Companies and the Honorary Consul General of the Czech Republic in Kathmandu. He actively supports the bilateral relationship between Nepal and the Czech Republic. Agarwal is also the dean of the Honorary Consular Corps-Nepal (HCC-N), an organization of non-residential consuls. In this interview, Pratik Ghimire of ApEx talks to Agarwal about the role and work of Honorary Consuls. Excerpts:

What are the key responsibilities of Honorary Consuls?

Honorary Consuls play a crucial role in diplomacy. As the Honorary Consul General of the Czech Republic in Nepal, I represent the Czech Republic, which is a significant responsibility. If any Czech citizen encounters issues in Nepal, they should contact us for assistance. This is our primary objective. Additionally, we facilitate visits for Czech delegations and embassy officials.

Our role also includes developing relations between the Czech Republic and Nepal for mutual benefit. We promote cultural exchange, showcasing each country’s culture in the other. Furthermore, we foster trade, investment, and tourism between the two nations.

How do Honorary Consuls help in trade, investment, and tourism?

Honorary Consuls facilitate bilateral and multilateral agreements that promote regular discussions on trade and investment. Individually, we promote trade and investment through various means. For instance, my office has many Czech-related books and catalogs that we promote in Nepal.

For the Nepal Investment Summit 2024, we invited all Honorary Consuls and embassies. Through them, invitations reached the business community, resulting in significant participation from the sending countries. We also organize events to promote trade, investment, and tourism. Honorary Consuls in Nepal represent 63 countries, and about 15-20 percent of tourists visiting Nepal come from these nations. These countries also participate in trade fairs, education consultancy, and investment activities.

What were the key takeaways from the peace conclave in Lumbini in March 2024?

The two-day event, ‘Global Peace for Prosperity,’ in Lumbini was organized by HCC-N and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Our goal was to highlight Nepal’s advocacy for peace and the importance of peaceful conflict resolution for a sustainable future.

We invited all ambassadors from the sending countries, and around 20 attended, along with 45 Honorary Consuls and Foreign Ministry officials. This gathering significantly improved diplomatic relations.

The event also aimed to showcase Lumbini, a significant yet underexposed tourist and historical site in Nepal. Many delegates visited Lumbini for the first time and were captivated by the Maya Devi Temple and the story of Lord Buddha’s birth in Nepal. We believe this exposure will boost tourism in the region.

Another objective was to attract participants for the Nepal Investment Summit. Sushil Bhatta, CEO of the Investment Board of Nepal, presented at the event, providing attendees with insights into the summit.

What are the key objectives of the gathering on July 23?

The 17th General Assembly and Charter Day of HCC-N will take place on July 23, where we will hand over leadership. HCC-N, established on July 23, 2007, brings together all Honorary Consuls and Honorary Consul Generals and is affiliated with FICAC, a global network of consular associations. This network allows us to collaborate effectively and address common challenges.

HCC-N has been very successful, especially in facilitating aid during the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2015 earthquake. The Dean serves a one-year term based on seniority among Honorary Consuls.

How are you coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA)?

Our engagement with MoFA is extensive. We work closely with MoFA whenever delegates arrive or when individuals from the sending countries need assistance or coordination. MoFA acts as our patron, and we collaborate closely with them. We have received excellent support and assistance from MoFA. Our work indirectly supports and complements MoFA’s efforts.

What are your expectations with the new Minister for Foreign Affairs?

I believe the new Minister is highly experienced in foreign affairs. She has been in public service for a long time and understands diplomacy well. I am confident that under her leadership, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will achieve new heights in both bilateral and multilateral relationships. Her extensive experience in dealing with people will likely be transformative for MoFA.

The fifth season of Nepal Idol, which is produced by and broadcast on AP1 HD TV, concluded recently, with Karan Pariyar of Bardiya winning this year’s contest. Each episode of the international reality television singing competition franchise, has garnered over one million views on YouTube. Pratik Ghimire of ApEx interviewed Suresh Poudel, the show director, about the Idol’s success and its future. Excerpts: 

Nepal Idol Season 5 concluded recently. How was your overall experience this season?

We used the experience and lessons learned from the previous four seasons. We paid attention right from the audition, which we conducted in all seven provinces. To those who missed out the first round of auditions, we held an audition in Kathmandu as well. The talents selected by the show judges were all phenomenal. To elevate their talent we had an experienced, agile, and smart production team. Asif Shah and Rima Bishwokarma were amazing as the show hosts. I believe that season 5 was the most powerful and weighty edition of the show so far. 

We saw the winner of Nepal Idol being congratulated by the prime minister and other senior political leaders. How do you think this recognition will impact the show and its contestants?

This is very exciting, as this is probably the first time that the winners of a television show have been awarded and honored by the prime minister. It has also proved that the presence of Nepal Idol is unique in the crowd of many franchised and non-franchised reality shows, so of course the judges and organizers are naturally happy, and so are the contestants. I think there will be more excitement among the contestants of the next season. If everything goes according to the plan, we could get the prime minister to give away the prize.

How do you see the future of reality shows like Nepal Idol?

The future is determined by three things. Firstly, the way the show evolves over time; secondly, the confidence of the advertising market; and thirdly, the availability of good talent. In this sense, I am confident that the future of Nepal Idol is good. The future of other shows is also bright as they too provide platforms to talented people forum around the country. 

How has the audience response evolved over the seasons?

We are pleased to see the maturity of the audience after reaching the fifth season. They are very much capable of picking out deserving winners from among the group of highly talented and gifted contestants.   

How has Nepal Idol contributed to the careers of past contestants, and do you keep track of their progress?

There is a good presence of singers in the Nepali music scene who came from the Idol background. Yes, the show gives them exposure, but putting in the hard work is up to them.  

There were reports that the finale of Nepal Idol Season 5 was going to be organized abroad. Why didn’t it happen?

There were talks with some parties but the financial deal did not work out. We could not afford to shoot the grand finale abroad. There was also talk about doing the show in a stadium in Kathmandu, but it was not wise to do so during the rainy season. So eventually, it was held at the AP1 studio. 

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects you are working on or planning for the future?

Nepal Idol Junior is about to start shortly, then there is the season 6 of the Idol. In AP1, I’m trying to do a documentary version of Tamasoma Jyothirgamaya talk show where we are researching about how to live 100 years. Besides that, I have some outside projects that I have to do. Let’s see.

How do you enter the television industry?

I joined Nepal Television for a children program, but my interest was in documentary making. After 93 episodes of the children program, I was transferred to the documentary section of Nepal Television. My first documentary was about Mustang, titled ‘Nepal: Beyond the Himalayas’. It was made for the SAARC Audio Visual Exchange Program and aired on national television in all SAARC nations. In seven years at Nepal Television, I made almost 45 documentaries, and to this day, my documentaries are regularly shown on the four channels of NTV. 

Then I joined Kantipur TV from its establishment time and made documentaries under the title ‘Bikalpa’. Documentaries have rebroadcast value, so I think these shouldn’t be seen merely as one-time financial means. For example, I made a documentary related to Dharahara in 2007. In 2015, it fell due to an earthquake. After that, Kantipur played that documentary many times, highlighting its rebroadcast value. Now, I am with AP1, mainly focused on Nepal Idol and television operations.

All seven provinces of Nepal have unveiled their fiscal plans for 2024/25, in line with the Intergovernmental Fiscal Arrangement Act 2017. A common theme across these budgets is a heavy reliance on federal grants, with a focus on infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and tourism.

The combined budgets for Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces total over Rs 278bn.

Koshi: Rs 35.28bn

Koshi Province aims to foster a ‘Clean, Happy, and Prosperous’ region with a budget of Rs 35.28bn. The province’s GDP is projected at Rs 903bn, with a significant rise in per capita income from $934 to $1,336. Electricity generation has increased sharply from 121 MW to 577 MW, ensuring access for 97.7 percent of the population. Priorities include agriculture, infrastructure, urban development, and energy sectors.

Madhes: Rs 43.89bn

Madhes Province has allocated Rs 43.89bn, with Finance Minister Bharat Prasad Sah designating Rs 16bn (36.45 percent) for recurrent expenses and Rs 27.89bn (63.55 percent) for capital expenses. This represents a slight 0.5 percent reduction from the previous year. The budget emphasizes education, health, agriculture, and tourism.

Bagmati: Rs 64.54bn

Bagmati Province’s budget of Rs 64.54bn marks an increase of Rs 1.83bn from the previous year. Economic Affairs and Planning Minister Jagannath Thapaliya allocated Rs 26.1bn (40.44 percent) for current expenditure and Rs 36.93bn (55.23 percent) for capital expenditure. Key sectors include education, healthcare, agriculture, and tourism. Additionally, Rs 1.5bn has been earmarked for fiscal management, and a ‘Skill Year’ program has been initiated.

Gandaki: Rs 32.97bn

Gandaki Province’s budget of Rs 32.97bn includes Rs 13.16bn for recurrent expenses and Rs 19.51bn for capital expenditures. Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Takraj Gurung highlighted a focus on quality infrastructure, production, employment, social justice, and good governance. The province aims to collect Rs 5.17bn from internal sources and anticipates receiving Rs 7.64bn from federal financial equalization grants, among other sources. It also plans to raise Rs 1.7bn through domestic borrowing.

Lumbini: Rs 38.96bn

Lumbini Province has maintained its budget size at Rs 38.96 bn despite reduced federal grants. Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Chet Narayan Acharya allocated Rs 11.24bn (28.87 percent) for recurrent expenses and Rs 23.58bn (63.09 percent) for capital expenditure. Funding sources include internal revenue, federal grants, and cash reserves. The province aims to collect Rs 7.51bn from internal revenue and anticipates receiving Rs 12.15bn from revenue sharing from the federal government, among other sources.

Karnali: Rs 31.41bn

Karnali Province has reduced its budget to Rs 31.41bn, with Rs 18.75bn allocated for capital expenditure and Rs 4.83bn for local-level fiscal transfers. Minister for Finance Mahendra KC stated the budget’s goal is to achieve ‘Prosperous Karnali, Happy Karnalis’. Priorities include physical infrastructure, employment programs, and cultural preservation. Notably, Rs 1.16bn has been earmarked for the Chief Minister Employment Program.

Sudurpaschim: Rs 31.62bn

Sudurpaschim Province has presented a budget of Rs 31.62bn, with Rs 11.72bn for current expenditure and Rs 17.53bn for capital expenditure. The budget aims to generate substantial revenue from internal sources and federal distribution, focusing on infrastructure development, education, and healthcare. The province aims to collect Rs 1.6bn from internal revenue and nearly Rs 10bn from revenue distribution.

‘Provinces struggle with budget cuts’

Uma Shankar Prasad, Economist and Member of National Planning Commission

Provinces face budget cuts due to limited internal revenue sources, increasing reliance on federal grants. The provincial budgets have decreased compared to previous years. Ideally, more funds should be allocated to provincial and local levels in a federal system, but in Nepal, the federal budget remains larger. This discrepancy indicates a gap between policy and practice.

‘Challenges in implementation’

Chandra Mani Adhikari, Economist

The budgets of all provinces focus on agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism, aligning with the federal budget. However, both provincial and federal levels face significant implementation challenges. Provinces struggle to increase income as the federal government retains 80 percent of major revenue sources and taxes. Grand slogans and projects are often announced without proper planning. No province has confidently declared they could spend 75 percent of their budget; in the current fiscal year, none have spent even 50 percent.

In some Tarai districts, schools have closed due to climate change impacts, highlighting a lack of attention to the effects on children and youth. Global climate discussions often overlook how climate events affect young people, especially those from vulnerable groups. Save the Children Nepal is actively engaged in youth-focused initiatives to address climate challenges and environmental pollution, empowering young individuals to lead climate action. Collaborating with organizations like Kayapalat, Nepalese Youth for Climate Action, Queer Care, and Blue Diamond Society, Save the Children has launched campaigns such as Panni Se Dur Janakpur, Shift, Generation Hope, and Red Alert. The following narratives showcase the experiences of some children and youth engaged in these campaigns:

Diwakar Uprety, Founder, Kayapalat, Madhes Province

The Panni Se Dur Janakpur campaign in the Janakpur sub-metropolitan city of Madhes province aims to reduce the use of plastic products. Plastic is omnipresent and takes approximately 4,100 years to decompose, posing a significant threat to the environment and future generations. Its adverse effects on society are compounded when considering the detrimental impact on children and youth, making the campaign crucial for prevention and mitigation efforts. A World Health Organization report revealed microplastics in the blood of seven to 13 percent of individuals, underscoring the urgency of addressing the plastic crisis. Furthermore, plastic pollution contributes to climate change. To empower youth in tackling this issue, the campaign was implemented with the support of Save the Children, successfully raising awareness among young individuals about the challenges posed by climate change and its repercussions on their lives. Initiated in 2021, this campaign has made significant strides in promoting social reform.

Pushpa Acharya, Engineer, Shift, Karnali Province

Even in Karnali, a province facing developmental challenges, the impact of climate change is evident. The region's bare hills and water scarcity have not only affected the adult population but have also posed challenges for children and youth. The Shift campaign, initiated as part of Save the Children's My Forest Child project, addresses the community's changing environment. This initiative involves collaboration with the forest consumer committee, children, and local authorities to plant trees, raise awareness about climate change, and empower children to address environmental issues. On World Environment Day, 24 children from Jajarkot are leading a campaign under the Shift initiative. The campaign aims to involve schools, community forest users, assistant forest offices, and other stakeholders in activities such as planting 600 saplings in Chhedagad Municipality of Jajarkot district, Karnali. 

Anjali Shahi Chalise, Network Coordinator, Nepalese Youth for Climate Action

Youth are often described as the backbone of a nation, embodying the potential to become mentally, physically, and socially competent individuals. Nepalese Youth for Climate Action was established to address the impact of climate change on young people, recognizing it as a global crisis. This organization advocates for climate action through extensive youth engagement, conducting advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and capacity-building initiatives. Previously, the organization implemented the Red Alert program and currently runs the Shift Captain campaign, which was established in 2008 and has established chapters in seven provinces. Engaging with approximately 500 schools, the campaign aims to raise public awareness about the impact of climate change on children and youth through various art forms, prioritizing education over mere verbal communication. To commemorate World Environment Day, the campaign has organized a week-long program featuring climate-related activities such as children's panel discussions, solidarity marches, and other events.

Suman Gyawali, Member, Queer Care

It is often acknowledged that the rights of individuals, including those with disabilities, marginalized groups, Dalits, women, and sexual and gender minorities, especially youth and children, are not adequately safeguarded. The experiences of young people differ from those of sexual minorities, necessitating tailored programs that address their unique needs. In response to this, the Queer Care campaign has been launched to provide targeted support for these groups, aiming to mitigate the mental health impacts of climate change and create a more inclusive society. This campaign was initiated due to the lack of an enabling environment for these communities. With the backing of Save the Children, the campaign, scheduled to run from June to November, aims to benefit over 100 youth from these diverse groups through a series of art seminars, mental health workshops, and other initiatives.

‘Climate crisis is a child rights crisis’

Ayush Joshi, Director of Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications and Media (ACCM)

Save the Children acknowledges that the current climate crisis poses a significant challenge to child rights, viewing it as a cross-generational crisis that represents the most severe threat to children’s well-being, education, and protection. Without effectively addressing this crisis, achieving resilient and sustainable development goals, particularly for marginalized communities and vulnerable children and families, will be unattainable. Save the Children advocates for upholding children's rights by developing a strategic plan aimed at shielding all children from trauma and stress through empowering children, families, and systems. 

In climate discussions, there is often an over-reliance on ‘experts’, sidelining the invaluable lived experiences and knowledge of children and young individuals. In Nepal, Save the Children serves as a mediator, actively involving children from diverse regions and empowering them to participate in conversations about and offer solutions to the climate crisis. Our approach prioritizes listening, meaningful engagement, and empowering children and youth to play a leading role in climate dialogues. We approach campaigns through a localized perspective, ensuring not just the availability of resources but also advocating for children and young people’s voices to be emphasized and their expertise to be recognized. 

Within climate justice advocacy and campaigns, it is crucial to advance and support the leadership of children and youth, strategically leveraging their voices to influence both local and global conversations and sharing influence and resources to establish proactive strategies. Our recent publication, ‘Breathless Futures’, sheds light on the detrimental effects of air pollution on children and minority groups. The report demonstrates that poor air quality poses numerous health risks, such as respiratory illnesses, skin conditions, and pregnancy complications. It stresses the importance of looking beyond the health consequences of air pollution, considering its broader impact on children’s overall well-being and development. 

Through consultations, children have expressed concerns about school closures, disrupted learning, and constraints on their families’ livelihoods due to air pollution. Viewing air pollution as a critical issue with severe repercussions for children, women, and minority groups, advocacy efforts and campaigns should incorporate the real-life experiences of these groups and challenge biases and norms that downplay the severity of the air pollution threat.

I was invited by CREASION Nepal to Khurkot, where, in collaboration with Golanjor Rural Municipality, they organized a plastic waste cleaning program. Together with Youth Cohorts, the Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, Traffic Police, and other stakeholders, they conducted a river cleanup campaign that prevented approximately 25 tons of plastic waste from entering the Sunkoshi river.

On May 31, more than 100 individuals in Khurkot, Golanjor-7, participated in the cleanup initiative organized by Project CAP (Collaborative Approach for Preventing Plastic Leakages in Rivers).

Ujjwal Upadhay, the team lead for Project CAP, shared with me, “We successfully relocated 24,575 kg of waste from the riverside to a designated landfill site using a loader, an excavator, and two trucks, each making 20 trips with a load capacity of 1.2 tons per trip. This effort not only opened a path to the new landfill site but also managed the remaining waste at the previous hotspot using standard waste management practices.”

Aanand Mishra, founder and president of CREASION, remarked, “We should not rely solely on external motivation or funding for crucial work like nature conservation. This commitment should come from within, ensuring a better future for Nepal. However, in some cases, such incentives are necessary for innovative solutions.”

Aasha Kumari Sah, a dedicated advocate for youth rights and education and the Bardibas Coordinator for the VFC-Youth Cohort, highlighted the importance of this initiative. “Our goal is to equip young people with the knowledge and tools they need to make a tangible difference in their communities. By fostering a culture of recycling, we can collectively work towards a cleaner, greener planet.”

I also spoke with Sujata Koirala, General Secretary of CREASION, representing the VFC-Youth Cohort initiative within Project CAP. She explained that through various campaigns, advocacy programs, and community outreach, they aim to instill a sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for recycling among the youth and the larger community.

Engaging with youths in the cleanup campaign was an inspiring experience that also motivated me greatly. Their energy and dedication to the cause were infectious, reinforcing the importance of community involvement in environmental conservation. Witnessing their commitment to making a tangible difference highlighted the power of collective action and the vital role young people play in shaping a sustainable future.