Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment, formed on Jestha 1, 2083 (May 14, 2026), has unveiled a draft ‘National Climate Change Policy, 2083’, which aims to channel 80 percent of foreign climate finance directly to local communities to mitigate severe risks and crises.
The draft policy, prepared with the participation of all three tiers of government, experts, and civil society, seeks to address the profound challenges posed by climate change across various sectors. The Ministry, led by Secretary Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra, has invited stakeholders to provide necessary feedback and suggestions to finalise the policy through a secretary-level decision.
Nepal’s Vulnerability and Impacts
Nepal ranks as the fourth most vulnerable country globally to the impacts of climate change, despite contributing only about 0.27 percent to total global greenhouse gas emissions and ranking 109th in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels. A 2022 survey by the National Statistics Office, published on Jestha 1, 2081, revealed that 65.4 percent of respondents reported increased drought due to climate change. The survey also indicated that 54.3 percent experienced increased disease/pest outbreaks, 46.2 percent faced storms, 32.6 percent whirlwinds, 28.5 percent floods, 21.7 percent cold waves, and 21.5 percent landslides.
Projections indicate Nepal’s temperature could rise by 1.2 degrees Celsius by 2030, 1.7 degrees Celsius by 2050, and 3 degrees Celsius by 2100, compared to the 1961-1990 period.
Policy Background and Evolution
The ‘National Climate Change Policy, 2083’ draft follows a five-year review of the ‘National Climate Change Policy, 2076’, which aimed to build a resilient society by mitigating the risks of climate change impacts. Nepal has been actively engaged in climate change management since becoming a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1994. The Climate Change Council, formed in 2009 under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, coordinates policy in the climate change sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment itself was formed on Jestha 1, 2083 (May 14, 2026), by merging the then Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the Ministry of Forest and Environment.
Next Steps and Regional Focus
Stakeholders and experts have emphasised the need for sufficient and meaningful discussions with all affected communities to make the policy timely, inclusive, participatory, and rights-based. They also suggested that the policy should include clear provisions regarding the 80 percent benefit from climate finance that local communities are expected to receive. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal is preparing to present Nepal’s climate change damages at the 153rd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), according to information on Ashoj 16, 2083.
The impacts of climate change manifest differently across Nepal’s mountains, hills, and the Terai plains, with the latter experiencing increased floods and extreme heat events. The Terai region faces risks of heatwaves, cold waves, and inundation. A World Bank report indicates that climate change will affect Nepal’s economy, particularly in agriculture, infrastructure, and labour productivity. Under the ‘Climate Change Policy, 2067’, 80 percent of the budget was targeted for local-level spending, and currently, an estimated 52 percent of the climate-related budget reaches local levels. Madhesh Province has its own Ministry of Forest and Environment and has sought feedback for its Madhesh Province Climate Change Strategic Action Plan.
Unanswered Questions
However, the specific deadline for submitting suggestions on the ‘National Climate Change Policy, 2083’ draft is not explicitly mentioned. Detailed findings of the five-year review of the 2076 policy are also not publicly available, nor is further information on the current status and activity of the council for policy coordination on climate change mentioned in the 2076 policy. The detailed mechanisms to ensure that 80 percent of foreign budget directly reaches local communities remain unclear.
