Gestión del riesgo de cambio climático (en inglés)

The local consequences of global climate change are not equally distributed around the world, and Nepal is among the regions where the effects are particularly pronounced and tangible. Certain communities have become acutely vulnerable to more frequent and less predictable flooding, as well as more serious drought. In response, CECI has teamed up with a consortium of mainly local organizations to implement the Strengthening Capacity for Managing Climate Change and the Environment project.

June 2010 marked the beginning of this one-year project funded by the ADB to support the Government of Nepal in planning its climate change adaptation program. More specifically, the various project partners are coaching Nepal’s Ministry of Environment on public education and on the building of capacities and strategies to effectively manage the effects of climate change.

An action plan has therefore been established that integrates these issues into government planning. Various tools have also been created to assist in making community climate change vulnerability assessments, drawing up risk maps, and taking measures to prepare for and protect against future crises. These tools are then made available to local decision-makers, District Development Committees, and Village Development Committees.

By way of example, a group dedicated to flood and drought preparation and adaptation in the Mukhiyapatti Musarniy community of Dhanusha decided to try a new flood-tolerant variety of rice. Other communities have constructed elevated tube wells that remain functional during floods and avoid such problems as water contamination. The project has in fact been a model of productivity and efficiency, with some very tangible results considering its short duration.

This initiative demonstrates that we need to take advantage of human beings’ inherent adaptability and that foresight and preparation are the best way to anticipate and adjust to changes in the climate, both current and future.