Melamchi: Stakeholders have underscored the need for enhanced efforts to ensure Nepal’s easy access to climate finance during a seminar on “Access of Climate Finance in Local Levels and Climate Finance-related Project Development.” The event, organized by Pokhara University in coordination with Melamchi Municipality, highlighted the urgency of mobilizing financial resources to address climate change impacts effectively.

Presenting a working paper at the seminar, Nepal Climate Initiative (NCI) Chair Prof. Dr. Madan Koirala stressed the importance of preparing well-researched and persuasive proposals to secure climate finance. He emphasized that thorough documentation is essential for accessing global funding mechanisms.

Similarly, NCI member Prof. Dr. Sanajyanath Khanal called for strengthening the capacity of local governments to assess natural disaster risks. He urged the inclusion of national priorities in proposals to access international climate finance and emphasized the need for cooperation among the three tiers of government, intergovernmental bodies, and stakeholders for effective climate adaptation and mitigation programs.

“Nepal’s carbon emissions are minimal, yet we suffer disproportionately from climate impacts,” Khanal said, highlighting the challenge of securing economic resources to address these issues.

Manjeet Dhakal, climate change advisor to the Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi, warned that delays by major emitting countries in reducing carbon emissions would escalate global temperatures, further threatening ecosystems worldwide. He noted that 2024 was recorded as the hottest year ever due to human-induced climate change. “Nepal's temperature has risen by 2.5 degrees Celsius over the past 45 years,” Dhakal cautioned, emphasizing the need for climate-friendly budgets at all levels of government.

Sindhupalchowk, identified as a region highly vulnerable to climate change, requires urgent adaptation measures, Dhakal added.

Addressing social dimensions of climate change, Ranjana Bhatta, a representative from the Climate Change and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion sector, highlighted that women, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens face disproportionate impacts from climate change. She stressed the need to incorporate gender-specific considerations when designing climate projects to ensure inclusivity and equity.

The seminar concluded with a call for stronger collaboration, innovative project designs, and inclusive planning to address the growing challenges of climate change in Nepal.