Low Carbon news in Nepal in July and August 2016
AEPC, NA to build 240 biogas plants in two years
Date: 26/07/2016
The Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) has signed agreement with Nepal Army (NA) to construct 240 large-scale biogas plants to generate energy from wastes in next two years.
In the wake of deepening energy crisis in the country, the government through AEPC has been promoting the promotion and development of alternative and clean energy technologies for cooking and lightening purposes, including the promotion of biogas plants. Ram Prasad Dhital, executive director at AEPC and Purna Bahadur Silwal, brigadier general in Nepal Army signed the memorandum of understanding the build biogas plant that would generate electricity from the wastes generated from various stations of NA in the next two years.
Climate change centre to open
Date: 26/07/2016
The government has formed a four-member committee to conduct a detailed study on the need of a climate change centre.
A meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers last week decided to form the committee which will come up with a report detailing the objective, work area and organizational structure of the proposed climate change centre within a month. The meeting, presided over by Chief Secretary Som Lal Subedi, was attended by authorities from various concerned ministries.
The government decision to set up a climate change centre has been taken in view of growing issues of climate change and global warming and its impact on various sectors, affecting the lives of millions of people.
Establishment of such a centre is vital for Nepal to work on climate change issues, formulate and implement national and international policies and programmes focused on climate change, conduct research to highlight climate change impact and adopt adequate mitigation measures to help the vulnerable communities, according to Bhiswanath Oli, secretary at the Ministry of Population and Environment.
Source:http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2016-07-26/climate-change-centre-to-open.html
Parliamentary forum on Climate Change Formed
Date: 10/08/2016
A loose forum of parliamentarians of legislature parliament of Nepal was set up in a recent assembly in Kathmandu. The meeting appointed Mr. Sher Bahadur Tamang as a coordinator of forum on climate change.
15 parliamentarians were present in the event from different political parties. Mr. Rajaram Syangtan, Kabita kumara Sardar, Dhirgharaj Bhaat, Lalbahadur Rawal, Ranjana Sarkar and Sita Luitel Gyanwali, Sindhu Jalesaa, jay Prakash Tharu, Hari Rajbansi, Radhika Tamang, Parsuram tamang, Kamala Bishwakarma, Kedar Sanjel and Narendra Kumal are the members of the forum. Another parliamentarian, Mr. Janakraj Chaudhary, who also serves as the coordinator of parliamentary committee on Environment Conservation also, has been appointed as advisor of the forum.
The forum will review and study the related acts and programs developed by the government and provide a necessary suggestion and guidance to the ministerial meetings and government. The forum will slowly start adding members as per the requirement.
Source: http://kantipur.ekantipur.com/news/2016-08-10/20160810174200.html
Boost on Solar Irrigation
Date: 26/08/2016
Solar Irrigation facilities had been installed in the remote village i.e. Purtimkada-6, Chinabagar which lies in west Rukum district. The program was initiated by District Development Committee (DDC) of Rukum while Nepal Climate Change Support Program (NCCSP) provided the financial support from which they installed solar pump and pulls water from Bheri river and use it for irrigation in the village. There was no irrigation facility in the village and they had to rely on the rainwater for the agriculture and now the villagers are expecting their yield will also increase.
Besides the traditional farming, now the villagers are motivated to grow off-season vegetables and sell in the market and get the return faster than they are getting now.
Source: http://www.abhiyan.com.np/new/Articles/view/83769
Air pollution monitoring resumes in Valley
Date: 24/08/2016
The government has resumed air quality monitoring in the Kathmandu Valley by installing a station at Ratnapark seven years after previous monitoring stations were closed. The Ratnapark-based station, which came into operation on August 9, has been continuously measuring particulate matter concentration in the air.
According to the Department of Environment, the station has been sending data regularly to the central sever since it began operation. “Finally, we have begun air quality monitoring in the Kathmandu Valley by installing a station at Ratnapark,” said Ganesh Kumar Shrestha, director general at the department.
“This is the beginning and we will install altogether 56 air quality monitoring stations throughout the country very soon.”
The data collected by the station shows very high concentration of dust particles, especially particulate matter 10 (PM 10) and PM 2.5 in the air. The station measured 188 micrograms of dust particles per cubic metre — the highest since it began operation — on August 22.
Source: https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/air-pollution-monitoring-resumes-valley/
Clean energy is changing lives in Nepal
Date: 18/08/2016
For many people around the world, a reliable supply of electricity remains very hard to come by. In Nepal, already struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake last year, power cuts are a harsh reality of life.
Some schools there are looking to clean energy – specifically the sun – to boost the education of students. One such institution is Malika Higher Secondary School, where solar power is helping to transform the educational experience of young people.
“It used to be very difficult for us to teach children when there was no light,” Udaya Bahadur Khatri, headmaster of the school, told CNBC’s Sustainable Energy. “We were not able to use visual methods to teach the children, except in the day time,” Khatri added.
The installation of solar panels has had a significant impact. “Now we are providing evening classes for our students. Our students are able to operate computers and laptops easily,”Since the earthquake struck last year, killing more than 8,000 people and injuring over 22,300, efforts have been ongoing to rebuild the areas worse affected.
This has proved to be a challenging process, with everything from logistical issues to a fuel crisis hampering efforts. In April, the Disasters Emergency Committee said that the focus was now on “livelihood restoration to enable self-sufficiency and supporting shelter reconstruction.
Source:http://www.cnbc.com/2016/08/18/clean-energy-is-changing-lives-in-nepal.html