POKHARA, 2021: Representatives of Nepal’s indigenous peoples called on the government to reflect their voices in climate climate polices and projects as they are at the forefront of climate change effects.
They made the call at a three-day program held by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) Climate Change Partnership Program, in Pokhara on March 18-21, 2021. The program was organized to discuss the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) report submitted by the Nepal government to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change secretariat.
The program was attended by 20 indigenous peoples’ leaders and activists including those from NEFIN’s Federal Council Secretariat, Province/District District Coordination Committees, Indigenous Peoples Organizations (IPOs), NEFIN-affiliated organizations and different community radio operators. Considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, proper health safety measures were put in place at the program venue.
With a view to raising their awareness level, the participants were also briefed on the developments in climate change actions and negotiations on the national and international fronts including the rights of/provisions secured for indigenous peoples. The event also dwelt on the country’s national adaptation plan, including its current status and future strategies, REDD+, loss and damage from climate change, and the Green Climate Fund as well as efforts being made by Nepal government to access the funding.
The Paris Agreement requires that each Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) prepare, update and communicate its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) document declaring the actions it plans to undertake to combat climate change, especially to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
Among the attendees also were NEFIN CCPP National Coordinator Tunga Bhadra Rai, NEFIN Chairperson Jagat Baram, climate change experts Raju Pandit and Ugan Manandhar and Srijana Shrestha and Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal from the Ministry of Forest and Environment.