Nepal's Preparation for COP 18: A consultation workshop

November 12, 2012
Lalitpur, Kathmandu
Government of Nepal, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology in collaboration with Climate Change Network Nepal/Clean Energy Nepal organized a consultation workshop on "Nepal's Preparation for COP 18" at Lalitpur on November 12, 2012. The aim of the workshop was to share the issues to be considered in COP 18 to the concerned stakeholders and to discuss inputs for strengthening Nepal's participation in COP 18.

The workshop chaired by Mr. Keshab Bhattarai, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MoEST) included participants from key organizations, civil society representatives, policy makers, practitioners and retired government officials. The program started with the welcome remarks by Arjun Kumar Thapa, Under Secretary (tech.) MoEST. Under Secretary Thapa highlighted the objectives of the program and requested the participants to provide constructive inputs to strengthening Nepal's participation in COP 18. Joint Secretary, Prakash Mathema, MoEST delivered a presentation on Nepal's strategy as a Least Developed Country Group (LDC) Coordinator in United Nation's Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and activities carried out by MoEST in preparation to COP 18. He also informed about the "Information Note" prepared by MoEST to Nepal's delegation for COP 18. The information note would be helpful in gaining insights on the current stream of negotiations, he added. His presentation was followed by "Issues and Agenda for COP 18", jointly delivered by Ugan Manandhar and Manjit Dhakal on belalf of CCNN. The presentation was focused on the negotiation at the table on different Ad hoc working groups and permanent bodies under UNFCCC.

Speaking at the program Dr. Dinesh Chandra Devkota, former Vice Chair, National Planning Commission called for need to reiteration of past positions held by Nepal while preparing positions for UNFCCC negotiation. Nepal should take the "hard work, team work and network" approach to make it's voices heard, he added. Participants called on Nepal government to clarify its key priorities and positions as there are different needs of Nepal within LDC and G77 and China group from which it put forward it's positions. Queries and suggestion given by participants were responded by the presenters. Gehendra Gurung, Team Leader, Practical action Nepal delivered a special remark on behalf of Climate Change Network Nepal. Adaptation and access to finance for implementation of adaptation programs is the key priority for Nepal, he emphasized.

The program concluded with the closing remarks by Keshab Bhattarai, Secretary, MoEST and the chair of the program. He thanked the presenters for insightful presentations and the participants for valuable suggestion to move forward.

TO DOWNLOAD 
Presentation 1: Nepal's Preparation for UNFCCC COP 18 and CMP 8 to the Kyoto Protocol, Joint -Secretary, Ministry of Environmet, Science and Technology
Presentation 2: Issues and agendas COP18/CMP8 Doha, Qatar, by Manjeet Dhakal - Clean Energy Nepal and Ugan Manandhar - WWF Nepal