Nepal is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Melting glaciers, erratic rainfall, droughts, floods, and landslides are already affecting people at the grassroots level. To address these challenges, the Government of Nepal introduced the National Climate Change Policy 2019 (NCCP 2019). The policy aims to build a climate-resilient society and guide the country’s development in a more sustainable and low-carbon direction.
Objectives:
- Build a climate-resilient society by strengthening people and ecosystems to cope with climate impacts.
- Promote low-carbon development through the use of clean and renewable energy.
- Mobilize and manage climate finance equitably, prioritizing vulnerable and low-income communities.
- Mainstream climate change concerns across all national and local planning processes.
Major Policy Areas
The policy identifies eight thematic areas and four cross cutting themes:
The eight thematic areas include agriculture and food security, forest and biodiversity, water resources and energy, rural and urban habitats, transport and infrastructures, tourism and natural/cultural heritage, health and sanitation, disaster risk reduction and management. Whereas, the four cross cutting themes include gender equality and social inclusion, awareness and capacity building, research and technology development, climate finance and management.
Key Provisions of the Policy
- Climate-resilient settlements: Develop safe and sustainable rural and urban areas.
- Low-carbon energy use & water management: Promote renewable energy and ensure multiple use of water resources.
- Integration across sectors: Mainstream climate concerns into all policies, not only environmental ones..
- Climate finance mobilization: Access national and international funding and ensure equitable distribution to vulnerable communities.
- Promote research and technology: Encourage study, development, expansion of climate- friendly technologies and info-services.
- Gender equality and social inclusion: Ensure that women, marginalized groups and all communities have roles in mitigation and adaptation efforts.
- Loss and damage reduction: Minimize impacts on lives, infrastructure, and ecosystems from climate-related disasters.
- Multi-level coordination: Strengthen coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments.
- Awareness and capacity building: Increase public understanding and build the capacity of local institutions.
- Monitoring and review: Conduct periodic reviews every five years to assess progress.
Implementation and Effectiveness
While the policy is strong in design, its implementation has been mixed.
What’s going well:
- Climate change issues are now more clearly included at local development plans.
- Several renewable energy and forest conservation projects have been initiated.
- Awareness and capacity-building programmes are expanding.
What needs improvement:
- Implementation at the local level remains slow and inconsistent.
- Coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments is weak.
- Climate finance does not consistently reach vulnerable communities.
- The policy lacks specific, time-bound targets and measurable indicators.
Public Awareness and Local Participation
For the policy to be effective, citizens must understand its purpose and their role in it. Many farmers and rural residents are unaware of the policy or how it applies to their lives. Information should be translated into local languages and disseminated through radio, schools, and community groups. Active participation of women, youth, and marginalized communities is essential, as they are both the most affected and the most capable of providing context-specific solutions.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The National Climate Change Policy 2019 provides Nepal with a strong roadmap for a climate-resilient future. It shows that the government acknowledges the urgency of climate action. However, a well-written policy alone is insufficient unless it translates into effective implementation, which requires setting clear, time-bound targets and ensuring that climate finance is directly channelled to vulnerable communities most at risk.