Call To Draw Benefits From Climate Change Meets

Climate Change Network Nepal (CCNN) organized a Consultative Workshop for the preparation of COP 13, COP/MOP 3 of UNFCC & Kyoto Protocol”. This consultative workshop aimed to disseminate the information on Climate Change and Nepal’s Obligations till now so far to the relevant stakeholders ranging from high government officials, I/NGOs representatives, youths to media.  It also aimed to identify major issues that Nepal needs to focus on upcoming COP that is taking place in Bali Indonesia from 3-14th December, 07.
 
On behalf of CCNN, Mr. Sandeep Chaamling Rai and Mr. Dinanath Bhandari presented papers to facilitate the discussion.
“The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MoEST) should forge coordination with other ministries, departments, line agencies and civil society organisations on climate change and debates on it,” said Sandip Chamling Rai, climate change officer, WWF Nepal.
 
“Nepal believes that the CDM is an opportunity to mitigate the effects of climate change. We have a conductive environment for developing CDM projects. The Biogas CDM project is our first effort in this regard. We hope appropriate methodology will be developed to support such an initiative,” he added.
 
“No specific activities were really listed on the government’s five-year programme,” he said. Dinanath Bhattarai, project officer at Practical Action, said there is a need for increased international technical and financial support and cooperation to build the capacity of least developed countries like Nepal to respond to climate change. “Nepal should align with regional and sub-regional groups, mainly with the Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States and partly with China for influencing Nepal’s interest at the convention and protocol and also for dealing with the immediate issues that crop up in the negotiation.”
 
Workshop participants suggested the Nepal Government to come up with consolidated and unified opinion on benefits that small countries like Nepal can secure by participating in international negotiation. They also pointed out those developing countries like Nepal lack sufficient negotiation capacity and skill to convince global community on issues and concerns of developing countries. Hence, Nepal government must work seriously to enhance its negotiation capacity to put forward its national agenda in global arena. The workshop has drwan various recommendations to government with respect to upcoming Bali meeting and as whole climate change issues. 
 
Mina Khanal, joint-secretary, MoEST, said the ministry will do its best to incorporate most of the suggestions from the experts in the Cop 13. “Since we lack manpower and expertise, we need more cooperation from all stakeholders to come up with a unified voice in the conference,” she said.