Webinar on Opportunities and Challenges of Implementing Second NDC of Nepal

Climate and Development Dialogue (C&D dialogue), a loose network of 11 civil society organizations, is facilitating dialogue and exchange of knowledge and learning on the interrelation between climate change, development and gender equality. It is also working to bridge the knowledge gap in these areas between the national and sub-national levels, and generate collective actions for policy interventions. Currently, the Dialogue has been organizing a webinar series entitled ‘Climate Change and COVID-19’.
A webinar on ‘Opportunities and Challenges of Implementing Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of Nepal” was organized on 17th December, 2020.The Government of Nepal submitted the second NDC of Nepal to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on December 08, 2020. The webinar was organized to inform wider stakeholders on the second NDC’s objectives and targets, and explore opportunities and challenges of implementing it. The lead presentation and the experts dwelt on different facets of implementation challenges of NDC.
Lead Presentation: Second NDC of Nepal and its target- Dr. Bimal Regmi, Team Lead, Oxford Policy Management
Guest Remark: Nepal’s NDC and its way forward, Dr. Radha Wagle, Chief, Climate Change Management Division, Ministry of Forests and Environment
Guest Remark: Fostering coherence between national priorities and NDC targets, Sunil Acharya, Regional Advisor, Practical Action
Guest Remark: Engagement of civil society in the NDC implementation process, Geeta Pandey, Manager, KIRDARC
Guest Remark: Mobilizing and ensuring finances for NDC implementation, Raju Pandit Chhetri, Executive Director, Prakriti Resources Centre (PRC)
Synthesis of Discussion:
 The implementation of NDC is an opportunity to move along the low carbon development pathway. Now, Nepal needs to focus on the implementation of NDC. The government of Nepal should be flexible to amend, improve or enhance the NDC to include the missing targets and issues.
 The second NDC of Nepal has mainly focused on mitigation sector. It has not included adaptation nor has it even imagined financing Loss and Damage. Looking at the current ground reality, Nepal should focus on implementing adaptation practices as a priority. Nepal’s NDC should focus on strong alignment with national priorities and international commitments. The 15th Periodic Plan, Sustainable Development Goals, Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction and sectoral policies that have identified adaptation and climate resilient development issues must also be the key priorities while implementing NDC of Nepal.
 Finance is a key to achieve NDC targets. Long term financing strategy and implementation framework is required to access and mobilize finance in more accountable and transparent way.
 Stakeholders including civil society actor need to be involved and engaged in the core process of NDC implementation. The implementation of NDC should follow the principles of equity, ensuring participation of all level of stakeholders including women, indigenous people, marginalized groups, youth, children, differently abled people in decision making and benefit sharing process.