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On the eve of the International Expert Dialogue on Mountains, People, and Climate Change, the Ministry of Forest and Environment (MoFE) held a consultation meeting with a media group to provide updates about the event. Nepal will host the event on May 22 and 23 in Chandragiri, Kathmandu, aiming to bring international attention to this critical issue under its leadership.

The two-day event will feature experts from 25 countries, focusing on enhancing coordination and prioritizing mountain-centric initiatives within the broader climate change agenda.

The dialogue aims to foster collaboration among mountainous countries and stakeholders involved in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) programs. It also seeks to develop concrete roadmaps and strategies for mountain regions in preparation for the 60th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and beyond. The SBSTA meeting, scheduled for June, will include an expert dialogue on mountains, humans, and climate change.

The event will bring together over 200 representatives from mountainous countries, island nations, international organizations, development partners, NGOs, the private sector, and civil society groups. The chairpersons of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and SBSTA, as well as representatives from the UNFCCC Secretariat, UN agencies, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank will also attend the discussions. 

The dialogue aims to facilitate collective insights and conclusions, which will be incorporated into the SBSTA expert dialogue, including Nepal’s initiative on Sagarmatha Sambad.

Maheshwar Dhakal, joint secretary at MoFE, told the media that the objective of this dialogue is to prioritize and strengthen efforts related to mountain ecosystem-based climate resilience in a coordinated manner. He emphasized that the dialogue aims to enhance the negotiating capacity of mountainous countries on climate change issues and to pressure the international community to mobilize necessary resources for climate adaptation and mitigation.

“The frequency of climate change incidents is increasing day by day, particularly in mountainous and hilly regions. Therefore, this dialogue will also be instrumental in raising a stronger institutional voice,” he said.

Buddi Sagar Poudel, joint secretary and chief of the Climate Change Management Division at MoFE, said the event will enhance the understanding of climate change impacts in the Himalayan region and their solutions. 

“Our conclusion is that this Dialogue will integrate expertise and experiences on the topic and develop a mountain climate resilience strategy along with a common resolve,” he told ApEx.

He added that Nepal is committed to including the mountain agenda in every aspect of the SBSTA dialogue to increase visibility for its climate initiatives. “In areas such as loss and damage, climate justice, climate finance, and climate technology, we will incorporate the mountain agenda,” he added.

Mountains are invaluable natural assets, supporting 25 percent of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and encompassing nearly half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. However, mountain glaciers are rapidly melting due to rising temperatures associated with climate change. This melting contributes to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) and sea-level rise, and threatens freshwater supplies for millions who depend on glacier-fed rivers. With gradual changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, extreme and slow-onset climate-related hazards such as GLOFs, landslides, and flash floods are increasing. Approximately 40 percent of the world’s population indirectly relies on mountain resources for drinking water, agriculture, biodiversity, and hydroelectricity.

Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary at MoFE says the presence of the SBSTA chair in the dialogue shows the commitment of mountain issues at the global climate negotiations.

Despite their significance and the threats they face, mountains still do not receive adequate attention and recognition in global forums. The global community has severely neglected the value of the vital ecosystem services provided by mountains. It is now critical to prioritize mountain areas in all global action plans. A unified mountain voice is urgently needed to address the growing concerns about the effects of climate change on mountain communities and the essential ecosystem services they provide.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to inaugurate the dialogue, which will feature opening and closing plenary sessions, along with thematic discussions focused on three main areas. These will include 10 sessions. First, climate science and mountain evidence, second, mountain solutions: common grounds and common understanding, third, mountain prospective: resources and opportunities. Each session will have the keynote speaker, presentation and the panel discussion and over 50+ global speakers will be making the deliberation.

The themes will examine the evidence of climate change impacts, vulnerabilities, and risks in mountainous regions, as well as emerging threats and the need for action both within and beyond mountain environments. It will also explore community-driven adaptation, sustainable policy frameworks, and the importance of climate justice and local perspectives. Also, it will highlight the potential for economic growth in mountain regions through transitions to cleaner energy sources, the mobilization of climate finance, and the promotion of global cooperation and regional partnerships.

The event also aims to minimize the loss caused by climate change in mountain communities’ lives and livelihoods by promoting adaptation measures, clean energy, innovation, and research. It will emphasize capacity enhancement for mountain communities and the promotion of multi-party cooperation and partnership on climate change finance.

Mountain regions support over 15 percent of the world’s population by providing essential resources such as food, shelter, and clothing, and serve as habitats for over 15 percent of wildlife, including various plant species. However, mountain countries have not reaped the expected benefits because they either have not effectively raised their issues and concerns in international forums or have not received adequate international recognition.

As a mountainous nation, Nepal has long advocated in international forums about the impacts of climate change on the Himalayas. Due to these efforts, the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP28) last year included, for the first time, the impact of climate change on the Himalayas in its decision-making and has since emphasized effective measures to mitigate this impact. It was a crucial milestone in recognizing the impacts of climate change on mountainous regions worldwide and laying the groundwork for further action.

Ever since the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference (COP15), the impact of climate change on the Himalayan ecosystem has increasingly drawn global attention. Despite Nepal’s persistent efforts to prioritize this issue in subsequent conferences, relatively little progress has been achieved.

The government have been highlighting the impacts of climate change on the mountains and their communities through various initiatives, including cabinet meetings in Kalapathar in 2009, the 10-point Everest Declaration, calls for an alliance of mountain countries in 2009, the Mountain Initiative, the Mountain Advocacy Summit in 2022, as well as numerous conferences, policy dialogues, and declarations focused on mountain actions.

Ahead of and during the COP 28 in Dubai, high-level government officials, including Prime Minister Dahal, emphasized that developed countries' pledges and actions do not align and called for them to raise their ambitions and urgently fulfill their commitments. They urged developed countries to increase climate finance to address the $100bn shortfall, double adaptation finance by 2025, and ensure fair financial arrangements without conditions, constraints, and compliances.

As the chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) group, Nepal also demanded that the loss and damage fund be predictable, simplified, and adequate for LDCs and mountainous countries. One of the major achievements of the Dubai climate summit was the launch of the loss and damage fund, which aims to provide crucial support to vulnerable nations facing the brunt of climate-related challenges.

The government has paved the legal way for the implementation of interest rate subsidy programs for micro, cottage and small enterprises, and medium-scale enterprises having a fixed capital of up to Rs 200m.

The government recently introduced a work procedure for the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Nepali Production and Consumption Enhancement Program, which was introduced through the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24.

According to the procedure, production-based, agriculture and forest-based small and cottage industries, and medium-scale industries with a fixed capital of up to Rs 200m will receive interest subsidies on business loans taken for producing or processing goods.

The government brought the program through the budget speech with the aim of promoting domestic production and consumption. “Micro, cottage, small and medium industries consuming domestic raw materials will be supported for processing, technology upgradation, as well as storage and marketing,” the budget for the fiscal year 2023/24 states.

According to the officials of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Rs 500m has been allocated for the interest subsidy program in the current fiscal year. As per the working procedure, 60 percent of the budget will be used to provide interest subsidies, while the remaining 40 percent will be used for technology transfer to production-based, agriculture and forest-based micro, small and cottage industries as well as medium-scale industries with a fixed capital of up to Rs 200m through respective local units.

As per the working procedure, micro, cottage, small and medium-scale industries will receive a five percent interest subsidy. However, industries operated solely by women will get a six percent interest subsidy.

The government will select the eligible companies by setting specified standards. As per the work procedure, a program implementation unit at the ministry will seek applications from industry units by publishing a 21-day notice. Firms that have not enjoyed interest-subsidy programs from other agencies and have not been blacklisted by state agencies can apply for the interest-subsidy scheme. An evaluation committee headed by the chief of the unit will study the applications and recommend firms for the interest-subsidy.

Officials say the beneficiaries will be selected based on criteria like production capacity in the previous year, the number of employment generated, the percentage of local raw materials used, the percentage of exports, business continuity, and environmental impact mitigation measures adopted.

According to the ministry, 50 percent of the beneficiaries will be micro and cottage industries, while 35 percent should be small enterprises. Likewise, 15 percent of the beneficiaries should be medium-scale industries. The selected enterprises will have to sign an agreement within 15 days of selection.

Among the selected proposals, the industry receiving the highest score above 50 percent will be provided with this subsidy.

The subsidy amount will be deposited in the applicant’s bank account. For technology transfer, local units themselves will procure equipment for the selected firms.

Industries producing daily consumable goods based on domestic raw materials, industries processing and producing primary agricultural products (milk, vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, and grains), industries processing tea, coffee and spices, industries producing organic and biological fertilizers, industries processing herbs and producing Ayurvedic medicines, among others, are eligible for the program.

“I believe that our main purpose in life is to leave the world a better place than we found it”

Wendy Shew, from California, US, is the driving force behind Building Education, a non-profit striving to transform lives through education. Inspired by her volunteer work in India and moved by the devastation of the earthquakes of 2015, Shew founded Building Education in 2017 with a vision of providing safe schools and equal opportunities for children worldwide. Beyond her philanthropic endeavors, she is an ultramarathon runner, trekker, and a fashion enthusiast, embodying resilience and compassion in all her pursuits. Nesum Limbu from ApEx talked to Shew about her organization and her projects in Nepal. Excerpts: 

What is the inspiration behind Building Education?

At the age of eight, seeing my mother’s battle with lung cancer instilled in me a profound understanding of mortality and the significance of living a purposeful life. This awareness later drove me to embark on a six-year journey across Asia, Europe, and Africa, where I volunteered extensively. Seeing some of the world’s most impoverished communities, I recognized the transformative power of education. Volunteering at an orphanage in India, I witnessed firsthand how access to education offered marginalized girls a pathway to a better future. Education, I realized, not only empowers individuals but also breaks the cycle of generational poverty, impacting lives for generations to come. This realization propelled me to advocate for education as a fundamental tool for societal transformation, echoing the profound impact it had on my own life.

What are the core values and mission of Building Education?

Building Education’s Mission serves to build safe schools in developing countries to end the cycle of extreme poverty. In collaboration with the local government, schools, and partner organizations, we aim to transform rural villages into prosperous, dignified communities. We believe in a world where every child has an equal opportunity to education.

The first initiative of Building Education took place in a Nepali slum where poverty and death rates were extremely high. Establishing a school was our first move in offering young people a safe haven. Understanding the importance of education, we promoted electricity as a means of increasing access to information and technology. Three years of immersive engagement taught us profound lessons in combating generational poverty, from funding missteps to witnessing transformative change.

Over four years, the metamorphosis of this community was palpable, as children once marginalized in slums became articulate, aspirational individuals. This illuminated the reciprocal nature of education, where growth transcends academics, nurturing dreams, and empowering communities. Upon completing our inaugural village project, the realization dawned that our model could be replicated, prompting us to envision broader impact across Nepal.

How were you drawn to Nepal as a focus area for your work in education?

In October 2014, I was in India and I heard Nepal being described as ‘heaven’ by the locals, prompting a spontaneous decision to make my journey there as a solo traveler. Knowing nothing about Nepal and with no prior research, I was taken aback upon arrival by the striking resemblance of the people to myself, feeling a familial connection with a taxi driver. One memorable instance was when, in a rush to visit Pashupatinath, I found myself without the address of my hostel, leading to a two-hour taxi ride with a non-English-speaking driver until I stumbled upon my destination, profoundly grateful for the assistance of the Nepali people in my time of need.

Despite warnings from others, I felt compelled to reciprocate the kindness I had received when disaster struck Nepal in April 2015, prompting me to seek out volunteering opportunities online. Discovering All Hands & Hearts, an organization directly involved in disaster relief, I promptly signed up and booked a flight to Nepal. Upon arrival, I immersed myself in various volunteer tasks, including clearing rubble, constructing temporary schools and homes, and aiding in displacement camps. All this would later go on to become groundwork for starting Building Education.

Can you tell us about the challenges faced by children in accessing education in rural communities? How does Building Education aim to address them?

Building Education’s projects are focused on uplifting the most disadvantaged and marginalized communities in Nepal, including the Chepang community, an indigenous group with a history of nomadic living in the Himalayan region. In these communities, only one percent of females are literate, with boys starting farming at the age of seven and girls being married off at 14, often facing early motherhood and severe food scarcity.

Last year, our journey to Karnali Province took us to Jumla and Mugu District, where we faced arduous travel, including a 60+ hour drive followed by a five-hour hike to reach Karnali Secondary School. Along the way, encounters with locals struggling with basic math underscored the consequences of educational deprivation. When we arrived at the school, we saw dilapidated structures with a lack of basic amenities like drinking water.

Building Education’s ‘School of Life’ model tackles multidimensional poverty by rebuilding safe facilities, installing water systems, providing energy, and introducing hydroponics for food. By collaborating with local municipalities, we want to ensure access to quality education and infrastructure development, empowering communities in Nepal’s Far West to overcome the challenges they face.

What has Building Education done to improve the quality of education in rural schools and communities?

When building our fourth school, Boomerang Primary School in Dhading, we expanded a five-classroom school into eight classrooms. That way, the school could facilitate one more grade. We provided brand new desks as the students were sitting on the floor to study. We built a playground. We installed a water harvesting tank so that children could have access to drinking water. We partnered with the local municipality to provide additional, better-quality teachers to support the school. They built the road so we could transport materials, and they installed grid electricity in the area.

Remarkably, our support enabled the first university graduate in her family—a girl in pharmaceutical studies—ushering in transformative change for future generations.

What are your future plans and aspirations for Building Education? What are your hopes for the future of the education system in Nepal?

We are currently searching for two different kinds of partner organizations: one that can support teacher training and school management, and the other that can offer curriculum or school learning sessions that let students learn actively and experientially, particularly in order to become engineers and acquire the necessary technical and technological skills.

We hope to make a greater impact in Nepal and reach our goals of 1,000 schools and 1,000,000 lives no matter how long it takes. We are headed to Jajarkot since there was an earthquake there recently. We want to find out what kind of support is needed and what sort of additional infrastructural support is needed in schools that are already there.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Monday secured a vote of confidence at the House of Representatives yet again—his fourth trust vote since assuming office on 26 Dec 2022—even as the main opposition party, the Nepali Congress, continued with its strident protest demanding a parliamentary investigation into Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane’s alleged involvement in a cooperative fraud. 

The development comes days after a vertical split in the Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal (JSPN), the resignation of JSPN Chair Upendra Yadav as Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Upendra Yadav and Minister of State for Health Deepak Karki, and emergence of the breakaway faction, JSP, as a partner in the Dahal-led coalition government.          

At the day’s second meeting of the lower chamber of the Federal Parliament, Prime Minister Dahal sought a trust vote after getting a go-ahead from Speaker Devraj Ghimire, amidst a loud protest from Congress lawmakers, who shouted slogans against the procedures to present PM Dahal’s proposal to obtain the trust vote and picketed the well. Expressing solidarity with the Congress, lawmakers from other opposition parties stood from their seats during the proceedings.

Despite the opposition bench’s show of strength, the Dahal-led coalition government passed yet another crucial floor test as Speaker Ghimire announced that 157 out of 158 lawmakers in the 275-member HoR, who took part in the vote of confidence procedures, voted for the government while one chose to remain neutral.

The major opposition has been obstructing parliamentary proceedings, demanding the establishment of a parliamentary committee to impartially investigate the alleged involvement of Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane in the misappropriation of cooperative funds.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dahal, responding to questions related to the trust vote later in the day, accused the main opposition party of demonstrating unparliamentary behavior by not creating a conducive environment for a Prime Minister to seek a vote of confidence in line with the Constitution. 

“You supported me as the prime minister in the past, but today you tried to obstruct the House and prevent me from seeking a vote of confidence. This incident will go down as a blot in parliamentary history,” PM Dahal said, referring to the Congress. 

He thanked the CPN-UML and other parties and parliamentarians, who voted for his government. 

UML Vice-chair Bishnu Prasad Poudel, who  seconded PM Dahal’s proposal seeking a trust vote for his government in accordance with Article 100 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal, requested the Congress to uphold democratic norms and values by ending the deadlock in the parliament. 

“I request all the parties to support the government to speed up national development by contributing to political stability. I call upon the Nepali Congress in particular to reconsider its role and follow democratic practices in the parliament,” Poudel said. 

Dahal’s tryst with trust vote

1. 10 Jan 2023: PM Dahal won 268 votes in the floor test, while 2 votes went against him

2. 20 March 2023: After the CPN-UML withdrew support to his government, Dahal underwent yet another floor test, securing 172 in favor of and 89 votes against his government

3. 4 March 2024: After the Congress withdrew support, PM Dahal again joined hands with the CPN-UML and other parties on March 4, securing 157 votes in favor of his government

4. 20 May 2024: After a vertical split in Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal and the formation of JSP under Ashok Rai, PM Dahal underwent the floor test yet again, securing 157 votes in favor of his government