Study calls on media to be sensitive to conflict issues
It is a duty of the media to accurately report conflict issues as they have a key role to play to maintain and promote reconciliation and peace in the society, a study report released today stated. The report "Conflict-Sensitive Journalism and Communication in Nepal" found out 0.26% of news stories, opinion pieces and editorials, out of a total of 14,422, to be insensitive to conflict. The research, carried out by the Media Action Nepal as part of the GIZ's Civil Peace Service program, provides baseline information on the current situation of Conflict-Sensitive Journalism in Nepal and offers key suggestions to promote conflict sensitivity in Nepali media. "The mainstream media seem sensitive about communal issues and censor news stories about cases of conflict between different religious communities. But the new media, mainly online media outlets, seem insensitive to communal issues and risk of making the matter worse," the study said. "For a long time, discussions on conflict-sensitive reporting were confined to the mainstream media. This has entirely changed now with the emergence of online news platforms. The so-called mainstream media alone do not set the narrative. Online news media also set the narrative on certain issues," the report further stated. Those working for online news media, however, lack a proper understanding of conflict-sensitive journalism, the study concluded. Even as different types of conflict remain at the local level, media coverage of those issues is limited with journalists in need of proper knowledge, skills and tools, the report said. On media capacity-building, the report said that journalists and editors have not received any training after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the Government of Nepal and the rebel party in 2006. "Before the CPA or during the conflict, there was a flood of training on how to cover the conflict. After the war was over, conflict-related training was not imparted to journalists." The study was jointly launched by Chairperson of Media Action Nepal Laxman Datt Pant, Chairperson of Minimum Wage Fixation Committee Sangita Khadka, Communication Registrar of Bagmati Province Rawati Sapkota and Chairperson of Advertisement Board Laxman Humagain. Speaking on the occasion, Pant, who is also the lead researcher of the study, said that media persons should not merely cover the consequences of conflict, but also report its root causes and solutions. The book launch was followed by a panel discussion joined by CEO of Freedom Forum Taranath Dahal, senior journalist Namrata Sharma, former Commissioner of Truth and Reconciliation Commission Manchala Jha and Editor of Annapurna Express Kamal Dev Bhattarai. The experts agreed that conflict reporting in Nepali media has been mainly gendered and male-dominated in absence of an inclusive newsroom leadership. One of the recommendations of the study calls on media houses to lay the ground for institutional initiatives to prioritize conflict-sensitive journalism. "For this, media institutions, academics, civil society organizations and journalists should together work on an appropriate working modality," it further said.
What next for public vehicle electrification?
Electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for only one percent of the total vehicle fleet in Nepal in 2020. However, their popularity is increasing, presenting a significant opportunity for the private sector to invest and create a favorable environment for EVs. This entails establishing an adequate number of charging stations, implementing vehicle standards, and crucially, ensuring accessible financing systems.
According to data, the import of electric vehicles during the first 10 months of the current financial year amounted to Rs 8.41bn, resulting in customs revenue of Rs 2bn for the government. In contrast, the annual import cost for petroleum-powered vehicles is reported to be Rs 100bn. While the use of electric vehicles is gaining momentum, their integration in public transportation remains low in Nepal.
“Anyone who has tried public transport in Nepal knows it can be difficult, that’s why many people in the country use private vehicles. That creates its own issues like traffic congestion, accidents and not to mention more use of fossil fuels to power vehicles,” says Martin Holtmann, IFC Country Manager for Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. “The problem has worsened over the years, with vehicle emissions being one of the three main sources of air pollution in Kathmandu Valley.” The transport sector is also the largest contributor to Nepal’s greenhouse gas emissions. So, it’s time to think of electric mass transit as a means of helping people get around cities in a way that’s better for the environment. “Nepal has the advantage of hydropower—a renewable energy source to meet its energy needs and what better way to use that natural resource than to power mass transit?” adds Holtmann.
Various companies, including TheeGo, Mahindra, BYD, Kia, MG, Hyundai, Tata, and Nissan, are selling electric vehicles in Nepal. However, to reduce imports and enhance self-sufficiency, it is crucial to establish domestic production of electric vehicles. Electrification of commercial vehicles is the need of the hour, says Rajan Rayamajhi, MD of TheeGo. “A 11-seater commercial vehicle runs around 300 kilometers daily and consumes around 40 liters of diesel. It could easily be displaced by an EV,” he says the commercial EVs give a larger profit margin to the bus owners.
“The private sector is doing well to support electrification drives but the government policy, banks and lawmakers only see private passenger vehicles as EV.” Mulkot, where TheeGo has installed charging stations, became the second largest electricity consumption of Sindhuli district. “Due to the lack of stability in our policies and plans, commercial EVs are ignored,” Rayamajhi adds.
The recent budget has imposed tighter customs duties on electric vehicles compared to the previous year. The exemption on excise duty for vehicles up to 100 kW provided in the previous budget has been reduced to vehicles up to 50 kW. Additionally, a 15 percent customs duty and a 10 percent excise duty have been levied on vehicles ranging from 50 kW to 100 kW. These changes resulted in a surge of electric vehicle imports up to 100 kW in the past year. Contrary to expectations of a more lenient import policy for electric vehicles, the government has increased tax rates despite encouraging their use.
Compared to the previous year, customs duties have been reduced by 10 percent and excise duties by 20 percent for vehicles between 100 kW and 200 kW. Customs duties for vehicles between 200 kW and 300 kW have been lowered by five percent to 40 percent, while excise duties remain at 45 percent of the previous year’s rate. Vehicles above 300 kW still face a tax rate of 60 percent.
Furthermore, the current budget has eliminated the tax exemption previously granted to the local vehicle manufacturing industry for importing parts. This move has raised concerns among experts, as it may discourage the establishment of new industries. Although domestic electricity production is increasing, there is wastage during the rainy season due to limited consumption capacity. With a commitment to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2045, the government asserts that all vehicles, whether imported or domestically produced, will eventually be electric.
Rather than increasing import taxes, the government should focus on creating a supportive environment for domestic electric vehicle production, says expert. “Commercial EVs drive has just started in Nepal but the recent increase on custom duty has disappointed the consumers and private stakeholders,” adds Rayamajhi of TheeGo.
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) predicts a rise in electricity consumption during the winter season in the coming years, in addition to the current increase during the rainy season. Increased consumption is influenced not only by household electricity usage but also factors such as the growth of factories and the adoption of electric vehicles. Consequently, the government should prioritize efforts to boost the production and usage of electric vehicles. By expanding the production of EVs and encouraging domestic consumption, the import of petroleum products can be reduced. This, in turn, would contribute to decreasing the trade deficit with India, potentially saving over Rs 200bn annually in reduced petroleum imports.
Establishing an electric vehicle plant leads to technology transfer, bringing the latest high-level technology to Nepal. Introducing new practices in the industrial sector also raises awareness about the importance of technology in other industries. “The initial focus for electrification could be on two- and three-wheelers as they make up 80 percent of Nepal’s vehicle traffic. Then the focus can be shifted to public buses,” suggests Holtmann. “The move to a greener urban transport will require coordination between the public and private sectors, and between the federal and local government levels. This may need some effort, but it is a plan worth considering to help Nepal cut off its reliance on fossil fuels… and deliver a resilient and sustainable future.”
Currently, TheeGo primarily operates public electric vehicles. Sajha Yatayat has imported 40 electric buses from China but has faced challenges in providing services with only six of them. The lack of charging stations and other infrastructure limitations in the valley have forced these buses, purchased for approximately Rs 560m, to remain idle in parking spaces in Banepa, Lalitpur, and Pokhara.
Recently, electric microbuses and vans have been introduced for long-distance public transport, mainly operating on the BP Highway. However, government cooperation and support in this regard seem unpromising. Sundar Yatayat, which previously operated around a dozen public electric buses within and outside Kathmandu Valley, halted its electric bus service in Feb 2023 due to a lack of government cooperation. The company cited the government’s failure to implement the NEA’s decision to waive demand fees for EV charging stations as the reason for its decision to discontinue electric bus services.
Global electric bus scenario
Since 2020, there has been a notable rise in the popularity of electric buses. Global sales of electric buses reached approximately 66,000 units in 2022. The dominant force in this market is China, accounting for over 80 percent of all electric bus sales worldwide. Moreover, China stands out for its prowess in electric bus manufacturing and serves as a significant exporter to Latin American, North American, and European nations.
Within the European Union, the Clean Vehicles Directive sets targets for the adoption of electric buses in public procurement. Several EU countries, including France, Germany, and Spain, have witnessed a surge in electric bus sales. Finland, in particular, achieved the highest sales share of electric buses in Europe in 2022, with electric buses accounting for over 65 percent of total sales.
By 2030, according to the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), the global number of electric vehicles (excluding two/three-wheelers) is expected to reach around 240m, constituting more than 10 percent of the total global vehicle fleet. In a more ambitious scenario known as the Announced Pledges Scenario (APS), it is projected that nearly 250m electric vehicles will be in operation globally by 2030. Moreover, electric vehicle sales are anticipated to represent over 35 percent of all vehicle sales during that period.
The Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE), which aims for a more aggressive transition to electric vehicles, predicts that the global electric vehicle stock will reach 380m by 2030. Furthermore, electric vehicle sales are expected to account for 60 percent of all vehicle sales during that time frame. These scenarios by the International Energy Agency (IEA) outline varying degrees of electric vehicle adoption and provide different outlooks for the future, depending on the level of policy implementation and commitment to achieving net-zero emissions.
Health Ministry orders hospitals to avoid sex-selective ultrasound
The Ministry of Health and Population has directed the health institutions not to carry out any activities to identify the gender of babies in pregnant women. Under Secretary at the ministry Yekdev Khanal has written to the government, private and community health institutions to avoid sex-selective ultrasound. The Ministry has also directed the health institutions and laboratories to paste such information at their premises. The ministry's circulation to the health institutions comes as the recently released report of the National Housing and Population Census, 2021 has shown imbalances on sex ratio of newborns in the country. In recent years, the number of newborn boys is higher compared to the girls mostly due to sex-selective fetus abortion, which is a crime in the eyes of law.
CIEF for climate change mitigation on hydropower
Hydropower promoter and climate change activist Krishna Prasad Bhandari has taken an initiative to set up Climate Impact and Evaluation Fund (CIEF).
According to Bhandari, the main aim of the fund is to conduct study and research on the impact of climate change in hydropower projects and suggest ways for possible mitigation.
The main areas of research will be environmental balance and impact of climate change in hydropower projects and electricity centers. Bhandari has submitted an application to the Independent Power Producers’ Association (IPPAN), providing Rs 51,000 as seed money for the establishment of the fund. In his proposal, Bhandari has said preventive measures are necessary that the hydropower sector could face in the coming days due to climate change related disasters.
The clean energy that Nepal produces is a main source of green energy, and through such green energy we can produce green hydrogen that could power electric vehicles as well as contribute to the production of chemical fertilizers, Bhandari has proposed.
He has also drawn the attention of IPPN to play a vital role on how to maximize the benefit from carbon tax and carbon credit. As Nepal has already announced its plan to l achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, Bhandari said the government needs to promote clean energy policies. To implement such a policy, there is a need for strong and productive collaboration between government and private sector for the management of catchment and maintaining a status quo of watershed Management Conservation.
Adverse impacts of climate change are already seen in the Himalayas which are the sources of many rivers. The government and IPPN should take the environmental issues without any delay and with a sense of urgency, Bhandari said.
