Integrating sectors into NAP | NewSpotLight Nepal News Magazine

Integrating sectors into NAP | NewSpotLight Nepal News Magazine

Unprecedented changes in the climate system have continuously cornered the countries like Nepal, its people, resource and economy.  Climate-induced disasters are on the increase and this monsoon might also claim life and property. Adverse impacts of climate change are pronounced in economic sectors such as infrastructure, forests, agriculture, and water resources.

Realising a greenhouse gas 'non-emitting country', state of poor and climate vulnerables, understanding the climate change impacts and coping capacity, and strong desires and needs for economic uplift, Nepal has limited choice to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change. It is, therefore, natural to put adaptation in high priority of climate change agenda. In our case, adaptation functions as 'survival strategy' for poor and climate vulnerable communities. This realisation marked the launching of the national adaption plan (NAP) formulation process in September 2015 to help people prepare for medium- and long-term adaptation needs. This responds to the implementation of the decisions taken by the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at Cancun, Mexico. In Cancun, Parties established a 'process to enable LDC Parties to formulate and implement national adaptation plans, building upon their experience in preparing and implementing NAPAs, as a means of identifying medium- and long-term adaptation needs and developing and implementing strategies and programmes to address those needs'. Furthermore, Parties have made several decisions from Durban in 2011 to Paris in 2015. The Parties at Lima in 2014 decided to enhance reporting of NAP document and outcomes of the NAP process to the NAP Central. This clearly demonstrates that NAP is both a 'process' and a 'product' (document).

The Paris Agreement (2015) prioritises, inter alia, adaptation planning, institutional strengthening and recognises adaptation efforts and communication. It has provisions for improving effectiveness and durability of adaptation, and building resilience of socio-economic sectors, through economic diversification and sustainable management of natural resources. Parties have agreed to undertake global stocktake to, inter alia, recognise and review adequacy and effectiveness of adaptation efforts and support provided and enhance adaptation actions. It demands for integrated and holistic approach.