Kathmandu, 11 November: On the afternoon of last August 16, there was a sudden flood with water in Thame of Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality of Solukhumbu. The locals didn’t think that there would be a sudden flood. As we watched, the village was stopped by the momentary flood and turned into a swamp. Still, that incident seems like a dream for Tasi Lhamu Sherpa, president of Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality. “We are in the grip of climatic risks”, he says, “The residents here are worried about which day they will be victims of an avalanche.”
Many people are still suffering from the disaster caused by heavy rains in most places including Kathmandu Valley on September 26th, 27th and 28th. According to the statistics of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, 250 people lost their lives in a period of three days. 18 people are still missing. One hundred and seventy-eight people were injured. According to the authority’s statistics, nearly 6,000 private residences have been damaged. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development estimates that rice production will decrease due to the heavy rains that came at a time when farmers were preparing to import rice. According to the statistics of the ministry, almost eight billion more worth of rice was damaged due to unseasonal floods even three years ago.
Three years ago, less than a week after the onset of monsoon, Melamchi Water Supply Development Committee reported that Melamchi Water Supply Development Committee had caused damage to the Melamchi Water Supply Project due to the flooding of Melamchi and Indravati rivers in Sindhupalchok. At present, preparations are being made to move Melamchi’s ‘Herdwax’. When the Melamchi water came after waiting for almost three decades, the joy of the excited valley residents was broken by the flood in a moment. At present, due to the calamity, the project has to be closed in the rainy season and conducted only in the winter.
According to the statistics of the authority, 495 people have lost their lives due to monsoon disaster this year, 66 people are missing and 522 people have been injured. There are many other such climate-created hazards. The 29th Conference of the Parties (COP-29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is going to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, has started today. The coop will run till November 22nd (November 7th). Head of State Ramchandra Poudel has left for Baku on Sunday to participate in the COPE conference on behalf of Nepal.
He is raising his voice for the protection of the mountains and the earth during this year’s battle. According to the Secretariat of the President, a program has been set for him to present the issue of mountain security with priority to the heads of state and high-ranking officials of more than 192 countries. According to the secretariat, he is presenting examples of increased risks due to the effects of climate change. Dr. Sindhuprasad Dhungana, Head of the Climate Change Management Division under the Ministry of Forests and Environment, says that various examples of disaster events created by climatic conditions will be presented at the conference. “We will present unseasonal disasters, avalanches, catastrophic events in anger”, he said, “Giving these examples, we will lobby for financial access for climate damage.”
He said that climate finance will be given more priority in this year’s budget because of the need for international climate finance, capacity and technology to implement the government’s second National Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP).
“On the 11th and 12th of October, due to the incessant rain, there was an unexpected flood, and there were landslides in many places. Sudden flood in Thame of Solukhumbu’s Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality caused billions of dollars in damage, Mustang was suddenly flooded for the first time. A few years ago, due to flood in Melamchi river, the project itself was damaged. Due to climatic conditions, the damage has increased a lot”, he said, “We have to face disaster due to the melting of our mountains. We have to face the problem of avalanches, so we will demand that we need climate finance from the countries that play the main role in climate change.”
Director General of Water and Meteorology Department Kamalraj Joshi has said that 47 large glaciers are at risk and if these glaciers break, the country will have to bear billions of economic losses as well as human losses. “Of the endangered glaciers, 25 are in China. 21 are within Nepal and one is in India”, he said, “Investment should be increased in reducing the risk of these glaciers. This year, we will continue the study on the cause of the avalanche in Thame.” Before Joshi sought access to finance for climate-related damage, what could Nepal have done to reduce the damage? He said that we should be clear about what we could not do. “It cannot be said that the climate has had such an impact, it is necessary to have an in-depth study on this matter. We need to make good preparations to reduce the damage caused by disasters and then international financial access can be claimed”, said Joshi.
Climatologist Manjit Dhakal has also said that a vivid example of climate-related risks will help Nepal to implement its agenda.Â
Advocacy to reduce climate-related risks
New Asian Development Bank (ADB) research has shown that the effects of climate change could reduce gross domestic product (GDP) in developing Asia and the Pacific by 17 percent by 2070. According to a study by the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ISMOD), the impact of climate change on the Hindu Kush Himalayan region is three times higher than the world average. According to Isimod, in the decade from 2011 to 2020, glacier melting has increased by 65 percent compared to the previous decade. Developing countries, including Nepal, are preparing to put pressure on the world community to reduce the impact of climate change on mountainous areas and reduce other climate-related risks.
Cope has six main agendas
Nepalese representatives have already attended the COP as the government has given high priority to the six main agendas to reduce climate risks and for the overall welfare of the country. According to the Ministry of Forestry and Environment, it has been informed that six thematic working papers have been prepared on climate finance, climate-related damage, mitigation carbon trading, emissions measurement, mountain issue technology and capacity building, climate change adaptation, inclusion. “We have also prepared the national position paper of Nepal and brought it to the COP, it includes the national concept paper, climate adaptation, climate finance, agriculture and food system, health and climate change, energy transition and efficiency, water and climate action, nature for climate, etc. Joint Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Buddhi Paudel said.
Preparations are being made to put pressure on the effective implementation of the Climate Damage Fund, which was established at COP-28 in Dubai last year.
