Climate Change in Nepal

Kishor RimalNanjing Forestry University, China

Global Warming and its effects•Global warming is happening and it is continuous.•It is estimated that average annual temperature rise of is about 0.8°C .•Global warming is rising due to higher quantity of green house gases mainly CO2

produced from burning of fossil fuels that is being emitted into the atmosphere from human activities•It is expected to rise about 2°C by 2050 and 4°C by end of this century if co2

emission goes business as usual.• This global warming has effected the natural climate system and have brought variation across the world.

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Climate Change in Nepal

Impacts of climate change in Nepal

Global warming impacts in Nepal

•Our country nepal is also not free from the impacts of global warming .

• The average annual temperature rise is about 0.6°C

•Higher Himalayas are facing a high of 0.8°C and low land plains are facing 0.4°C of temperature rise.

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Impacts of climate change in Nepal

Current and Near –term impacts•Glaciers and mountain snow are melting more rapidly which are the continuous source of drinking and irrigational water for downstream (IPCC, 2007).•Many parts of the region have suffered a reduction in food production due to reduced water availability, increases in temperature and a reduction in rain fall days (IPCC, 2007).•Biodiversity has been decreasing with emergence of alien species and expected to continue in greater pace in days to come (IPCC, 2007).•The incidence of diarrheal diseases and other infectious diseases such as cholera, hepatitis, malaria and dengue fever is increasing due to severe floods, rainfall and droughts in combination (IPCC, 2007).•Livelihood of the poor depending upon nature for their subsistence are ill affected due to drought, flash floods and unprecedented natural disasters (IPCC, 2007).

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Impacts of climate change in NepalLong–term impacts• Agriculture and food security: 34.7% GDP of Nepal is from Agriculture (DOA, 2011). Overall crop yield (wheat, maize and rice) could decrease in Nepal by up to 30% by the end of this century (IPCC, 2007).•Water resources: Projections for Nepal suggest a 20% loss of snow and glaciated area with 1°C increase in temperature increasing likelihood glacial lake outburst flooding (GLOF) (IPCC, 2007).• Ecosystems and biodiversity: Tropical wet forest and warm temperate rain forest will disappear, and cool temperate vegetation will turn into warm temperate vegetation. Currently, there is no rain forest in tropical and subtropical regions in the Nepal, but a doubling in carbon dioxide would see an emergence of rain forest in these regions (IPCC, 2007).• Human health and migration: Increasing temperatures and floods combined are likely to yield a spread in pathogen and insect borne diseases and exposure of communities to diseased that they have no experience of or immunity to. Human casualties and migration following extreme weather events is also to be anticipated (IPCC, 2007).

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Mitigating the Impacts of climate change in Nepal

What initiatives could be undertaken to mitigate these impacts? Mitigating the consequences of climate change due to anthropogenic emission of Co2 and CH4 in the atmosphere in order to limit the temperature rise up to 2°C is the major concern of whole world so as our country Nepal. The need to act has never been more urgent. We need to

I. Act Now – Energy Revolution from fossil to low or no carbon

II. Act Together – Global partnership on emission reduction and carbon financing

III. Act Differently – Policy and legislations for climate change mitigation and actions

Mitigating the Impacts of climate change in Nepal

Action to be taken now to mitigate economic and Human Consequences• Promotion of renewal energy.• Managing forest resources alternatively.• Low energy consuming urban planning.• Proper disposing of our wastes.• Improving water use efficiency and agricultural

productivity.• Leapfrogging traditional technologies and

adopting environmentally sound technologies• Establishment of the market mechanism for

emission trading and carbon taxation on fuel types.• Bridging the financial gap through collaborating

with new global financial schemes. • Establishment of the climate information system,

planning for uncertainties and climate resilient infrastructures .

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Mitigating the Impacts of climate change in NepalNepal share less than a percent of GHG emission but it stands as the 4th vulnerable country to face the consequences of climate change ( Climate Change Risk Atlas, 2010). Nepal can and has already initiated mitigation initiatives as• Promotion of renewal energy (solar Power, wind power)• Sensitization to reduce carbon foot print and incentives for local

food promotion and consumption reducing food miles.• Implementation of REDD+, Formulation of climate change

regulation, NAPA and LAPA• Promotion of CDM mechanism (bio-gas, fuel efficient kiln) • Formulation and amendment of climate friendly policies.• Multi-stakeholder institutional set up for climate change

adaptation, mitigation planning and execution.

These actions undertaken aims for climate stability at least at regional level and do not lower the agricultural production which is the back bone of national economy.

Besides, reducing carbon foot print and lowering food miles, all of the above mentioned requires regional coordination. Nepal is a developing and technically not so sound. Nepal requires international support in carbon financing as REDD+, technology transfer and leapfrogging.

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Mitigating the Impacts of climate change in Nepal

Promotion of Energy Access• Nepal suffers energy crisis. Electricity is the main

energy used in household and industries. Besides, fossil fuel, coal burning and fuel-wood are the major ones.

• Promotion of energy access is highly difficult in the country. Although some intervention could be carried out

• Reducing Subsidies in Fossil fuel•Carbon taxation•Promotion of public transportation•Promotion of clean energies

The ultimate goal of these promotional activities is to reduce dependence on fossil fuel and reduce CO2 emission.

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Mitigating the Impacts of climate change in Nepal

Use of Low carbon energy resources (LCER)Nepal holds 2.27% of world water resources with 40,000 MW of economically feasible electricity production potential (HIDCL Nepal, 2014). Electricity is a LCER and only in reach of 40% of country‘s population.It can be best used by

• Producing in high scale and making reach to all• Developing electric transport system and providing

subsidy• Introducing low electricity consumption appliances.• Low energy urban planning

High scale production of electricity needs more hydro powers. Although its potentiality, budget factor plays a vital role in constructing and maintenance of hydro powers.International agencies have shown their interest in funding but constructing a hydro- power with a dam must meet the interest of different stakeholders acting as a barrier.Sensitization, proper incentives and community ownership might remove this barrier

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ConclusionsNepal is also severely facing the consequences of climate change.The country faces the melting of snow in higher altitudes and drought and floods in downstream as major impacts jeopardizing agricultural production, water resources, human health and biodiversityNepal has initiated its climate adaptation and mitigation actions through policy provision, National Adaptation Program of actions (NAPA), Local level Adaptation Plan of Action(LAPA) promotion of solar energy, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Reducing Emission From Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) and existing policy amendments as major.Promotion of Renewable Energy Access is now gaining popularity butUse of Low carbon energy resources is not yet noticeable.

References• Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth

Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Core Writing Team, Pachauri, R.K. and Reisinger, A. (Eds.) IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland. pp 104

• http://www.mikeldunham.blogs.com/mikeldunham/2010/10/nepal-is-4th-country-most-at-risk-from-climate-change.html

• http://www.hidcl.org.np/nepal-hydropower.php

• www.doanepal.gov.np