Climate Change Impact, Adaptation Practices and Policies in Nepal

Transcription

1 Climate Change Impact, Adaptation Practices and Policies in Nepal Krishna R Tiwari, Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University Pokhara Nepal Climate Change & Dev. Policy Conference UNU- WIDER, Sept 2012, Helsinki 1

2 Climate Change (CC) situation in Nepal Methodology Result and Discussion Impact on Agriculture Water resources Adaptation practices Nepal CC Policies in practice Policy gap Challenges Outline 9/29/2012 Way forward Krishna R Tiwai,Ph.D. IOF, Pokhara 2

3 CC situation in Nepal Nepal the 4th most vulnerable country Attributable to High exposure: Temperature increasing trend C /Yr in High mountain to globally ( C) High sensitivity Young geology/steep slopes Low adaptive capacity Extreme poverty/difficult access Although, GHG emission is negligible (0.025%) but tremendous negative impacts of CC MOE (2010) projected that increased temperature by another 1.2 C by 2030, 1.7 C by 2050, and 3.0 C by 2100 in Nepal. Temperature rise in these areas increase the rate of snow and 3 glacier melt, releasing a higher volume of water to flow into lower region (Practical Action, 2010). 3

4 All Nepal temperature trend Warmest year in record All Nepal Temperature Trend Last 6 Consecutive years amongst Warmest 12 years: y = x R 2 = Temperature ( C) Year All Nepal Temperature is increasing steadily About 1.8 C increase from Source: Baidya

5 CC situation.. Additionally, in case of precipitation: Regional precipitation series showed significant variability on annual and decadal time scales (Shrestha, et al., 2000). From the trend observed between 1976 and 2005, it is expected that the regions with already high precipitation will receive more rainfall and those with low precipitation will see further decrease (Practical action 2010). It is also reported that over the past decades rainfall has become more intense, highly variable, longer gaps of no rain and delayed monsoon. Resilience to climate risk is poor in most areas because of fragility 5

6 Objective of the study To assess the local people experiences on climate change, its impact at Transhimalayan- Northern to Terai Southern region and their adaptation practices that enable them to maintain their livelihood To review the recent CC policies and their implementation practices on CC adaptation at local level 6

7 Map of the Study Area 7

8 Methodology The study was divided into two parts Primary data collection through focus group discussion, share learning dialogue, interaction workshop with district level stakeholders (GOs/NGOs), and key informant interview with different field, district level technicians, as well as national level policy makers and field observations. Reviewed CC related policies, programme, documents for policy analysis from national to local level. 8

9 Key informant interview 9

10 Group discussion 10

11 Household survey 11

12 Consultative meetings with different district level organizations 12

13 Results and Discussion Major CC Impacts area Agriculture and Food security, Water resources, Climate induced disaster, Forest and biodiversity, Public health and Urban settlement and infrastructure. The paper mainly discusses on agriculture and water resources because majority of the population (80 %) depends on agriculture for their livelihood 13

14 Agriculture Farming 14

15 Impact on Agriculture Variability of the precipitation (amount distribution and timing) increasing uncertainty resulted negative impact on agriculture production of both summer crops ( maize, paddy) and winter crops (wheat, legume and mustard). Rain fed crops like Wheat, Oil crops (Rape mustard), winter vegetables and Maize production are severely affected due to low rainfall during winter and pre-monsoon. Increased food insecurity and rural livelihood 15

16 Impact on Agriculture In case of high mountain, (Mustang) farmers reported that unpredictable and un-timely precipitation in recent years (in the month of May) resulted damaged crops such as barley, wheat, and oat during harvesting time. Low soil temperature for maize seed germination in the month of May. Some have positive impacts as such opportunities to plant fruit ( Apple and Orange) and vegetables (cabbage) in the higher mountain. 16

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18 Impact on Water Resources Too little and too much water in some places and time, and degraded water quality are the major issues in this region More than 80 % communities have experienced increased water stress and decreased rainfall and delay in monsoon (15 to 20 days) Local communities from High mountain (Mustang district) have experienced during the last few years (6-7) the low snowfall but high rainfall 18

19 Impact High mountains communities reported that there used to be good snowfall in high altitude area, with up to 2 to 2.5 feet in the past. But, lately snowfall is only negligible during the last 5-6 years. Furthermore, local people in the high mountains have also noticed spectacular changes in their surroundings in the last couple of decades; hillsides that once used to be covered in snow throughout the year are now bare and dry. Water resources have decreased in natural springs and stream flow in the study area 19

20 Local adaptation practices Degradation of the High mountain grass land people have reduced the livestock numbers and changed occupation Mountain and Siwalik region, local people have been managing forest as a community forest, or leasehold forest Adoption of Sloping Agriculture Land Technology (SALT) as an agroforestry practice 20

21 Adaptation practices.. Local farmers were practicing vegetable as a crop diversification, livelihood diversification to earn more income than cereal crops in the Mid mountain and Siwalik region Local farmers reported the change in the seed sowing and planting time as well as adoption of early ripening and drought tolerant varieties in their farm lands. Limited farmers have irrigation facilities for their crop production. Limited framers have now started rain water harvesting, conservation pond and utilization of excess drinking water for vegetable production 21

22 Adaptation Drip irrigation 9/29/2012 Krishna R Tiwai,Ph.D. IOF, Pokhara 22

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24 Climate Change policies Initiatives in Nepal GoN has initiated several activities to implement mitigation and adaptation measures to combat CC problems. CC policy is the newest addition to Nepal s legislative framework. The policy has come with international signing treaty and convention CC initiatives passed 20 years 24

25 CC Initiatives in Nepal Date Policy highlight Key features 1992 Participated CC business Signed the United Nations Framework Convention on CC (UNFCC) UN Conference on Environment and Development at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Instrument of ratification on UNFCCC has entered into force in Nepal as per the CC Convention provision 1998 National Conservation Strategy Sustainable Development Agenda for Nepal (SDAN) 2005 Nepal submitted the instrument of accession to the Kyoto Protocol to its depository Milestone in the field of CC, which has three objectives: (a) Sustainable use of water, land, forest and other renewable resources, (b) Conservation and promotion of bio-diversity (forest and agricultural) and (c) Protection of eco-system Identified CC as the Future Agenda for Action. The Protocol has entered into force in Nepal. In order to expedite CDM projects, and get benefits from them, the Government of Nepal has made the Ministry of Environment (MOE) responsible to function as the Designated National Authority 25

26 2007 CC issues addressed in the Interim Constitution of Nepal Right of every citizen to live in clean environment Right of every citizen to food security 2009 National Strategy for Integrate the disaster risk reduction management from national to local Risk Management, level and mainstreaming into development agenda 2009 CC Council High level coordination and policy formulation in Nepal, Chairmanship of the Pri-minister 2010 National Planning National Planning Commission has Initiated agenda climate resilience planning.. Make development efforts climateresilient and environment-friendly 2010 Readiness Preparation Proposal (RPP) for REDD+ plus 2010 GoN endorsed NAPA documents To prepare vision for REDD+ strategy after Submitted by MoFSC to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) of the World Bank Assessing and prioritizing cc vulnerabilities and identifying adaptation measures 2010 Mountain Initiative (MI) Nepal supports the importance of initiating the MI for implementing Article 4.8 of the Convention to address the effects of CC on mountain people and the mountains Climate Change Policy Provides multiple avenues for addressing the adverse impacts of a changing climate. November 2011, GoN endorsed the LAPA framework 2012 Government highlighted CC policies in Rio+20 LAPA provides opportunities to implement NAPA priorities with the participation of the local communities. LAPA framework ensures that the process of integrating CC resilience into local to national planning is bottom up, inclusive, responsive and flexible Nepal s recent policies and programmes focus on integrating climate adaptation, which is also reflected in the Rio+20 submissions. 26

27 NAPA- Nepal Overall objective framework of NAPA Mainstreaming Climate Change Agenda into National Development Poverty reduction Livelihoods improvement diversification Building resilience 27

28 National Framework for Local Adaptation Plan for Action (LAPA) Government of Nepal initiated climate adaptation planning and implementation Government intention : disburse at least 80 % of the available budget to the local level LAPA is designed to mainstream local adaptation needs into development planning Implementation adaptation activities at local level 28

29 LAPA Planning and Implementation Framework 29

30 Community Adaptation Plans of Actions (CAPA) CAPA is an adaptation plan prepared by Community and is considered as the best practice to ensure the bottom up planning process. Project like LFP, CARE projects initiated CAPA at community forest user groups 30

31 Climate Change Policy 2011 (2067) The policy has only recently been approved it is difficult to assess its influence at this stage. Three Year Plan Approach Paper (GON) ( ) includes the objectives of promoting green development, making development activities climatefriendly, mitigating the adverse impacts of climate change, promoting adaptation The proposed constitution formulation time, climate change was high on the national agenda. The draft constitution directly references climate change, clearly stating that citizens have a right to adaptation and should be compensated for the losses and damages caused by climate related disasters 31

32 Climate Change Policy Climate Change Policy 2011, with its goal to improve livelihoods by mitigating and adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change, Specific objectives. Establishment of a Climate Change Center, Implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation related programmers, Building community resilience to climate change impacts and Meeting state obligations established by multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) 32

33 CC Policy highlight Adopting a low carbon emissions development path, Deforestation control, forest management and land use plan for C-sequestration utility Implementing climate change-related programmes in local participation Enhancing climate adaptive capacity of food grains, species and ecosystem Identifying, documenting and improving climate-friendly traditional knowledge Developing low methane emitting agricultural technologies Proper utilization, promotion and conservation of forest resources Prioritizing sustainable forest, agro-forestry and pasture/rangeland management program 33

34 Institutional frameworks for climate change planning in Nepal 25-members Climate Change Council, including eight experts, was constituted under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister The Ministry of Environment (MOE) is the focal point for most climate change activities including those under the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol. Under the MOE there is a Climate Change Management Division. MOE plays a key role in overall coordination across scales 34

35 Positive outlooks in the policy Bottom-up participatory planning Integrated approach Ensuring the participation of poor people, Dalits, marginalized indigenous communities, women, children and youth in the implementation of climate adaptation and climate change-related programmes 80 % fund will be allocated to the local level Poverty reduction and livelihood focus Mainstreaming to the national development agenda 35

36 Gap and Challenges on CC policy Policy in the documents is very nice but implementation and institutionalization of the program at the local level is questionable. Coordination mechanisms among the government line agencies from district and national level Ownership for the program implementation and success Lack of mechanism for implementation of the policy and program and thematic based information The Ministry of Environment (MoE) will primarily be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of this policy. Capacity of the institutions and service provider Achievable target is questionable? 36

37 Practices Policies in practice has not institutionalized and implemented Some practices has already implemented from different GO and NGOs related on climate change mitigation and adaptation National and district level disaster relief committee Practices which help GHGs mitigation Forest and Biodiversity conservation ( MOFSC) Aforestration and Reforestration (MOFSC) Alternative energies: Biogas, Solar, Microhydro.. 37

38 Practices related on adaptation Water harvesting/ conservation pond (DSCWM) Soil conservation program, C F Mgt, Biodiversity cons, LF Water induce disaster management program Early warning system few cases Media program ( awareness) Organic farming and agro-biodiversity, agro forestry Different INGO/NGOs has prepared LAPA and CAPA at the VDC and UG at their project areas Different Ministry: Agri (Environment division,) Forest- REDD cell. CC Mgt. division (MOE) Different government offices such as DFO, DSCO,DAO have initiated climate change issues and adaptation option at the local level training and awareness program 38

39 Way forward Demand and service provider capacity enhancement Institutionalization the program and activities with allocation the certain percent budget for implementation in each line agencies even VDC and DDC CC adaptation programme be mainstreamed in the national development agenda and enhance the institutional capacity to implement the programme Baseline data and documentation and Research Knowledge shearing 39

40 Thank You Very Much 40