KATHMANDU: A Policy Dialogue on Expanding Green Energy for Environmental Sustainability highlighted key challenges and opportunities in Nepal.
Held at the Durbarmarg Pavilion Hall, Kathmandu, the event focused on fostering discussions crucial to Nepal’s renewable energy ambitions.
Naresh Rimal, an environmental governance expert from ISET Nepal, delivered a presentation titled ‘Environmental Governance and Accountability Framework’.
Supported technically by the Asia Foundation, Rimal underscored the statistical impact of climate change and the challenges associated with scaling up green energy initiatives.
Anu Adhikari, representing the United Nations Capital Development Fund, assessed the insights and experiences shared by participants.
She emphasized the imperative for future policy frameworks and initiatives, advocating for enhanced environmental governance, robust data management, targeted research efforts, and strengthened cooperation among stakeholders, including civil society organizations.
The Policy Dialogue, themed ‘Internal Analysis for Effective Environmental Governance in South Asia’, featured discussions on the environmental governance landscape in Nepal.
Speakers addressed the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change, emphasizing the need for proactive policy interventions and coordinated governmental efforts.
Key recommendations from the dialogue included strategies to foster job creation, promote inclusive industrial development, and encourage innovation and environmental responsibility.
Participants underscored these measures as essential for securing a sustainable future for the Nepali populace.
In particular, participants emphasized during the dialogue that climate change will profoundly impact the water cycle, infrastructure, and natural ecosystems, posing significant challenges to clean water access and food security.
Highlighting the critical need for regional cooperation among South Asian countries to tackle the diverse challenges posed by climate change and to devise and implement effective mitigation and adaptation strategies, it was underscored that concerted efforts across various levels of government are essential.
The dialogue also focused on identifying key environmental challenges in South Asia and explored how Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) can effectively influence public policy.
Discussions also centered on strategies to strengthen alliances for sustainable governance.
In his concluding remarks Ranjan Bhatta, Senior Climate Action Officer at The Asia Foundation, shared insights into the impact of environmental governance and climate change on South Asia, highlighting political reforms, education, health, and public awareness efforts.
The policy dialogue attracted 30 participants, including representatives from environmental and climate change organizations, private sector experts, and media personnel.
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