Adaptation Component of NDC

As per Article 7.10 and 7.11 of the Paris Agreement, Nepal will submit an adaptation communication, which will include its priorities, implementation and support needs, plans and actions through the National Adaptation Plan (NAP). The NAP will outline Nepal's contribution towards meeting the adaptation goals set out in the Paris 
Agreement and the required means of implementation to implement that contribution fully.

Nepal is at high-risk to the effects of climate change. Thus, adaptation will be a constant requirement for the country. Adaptation priorities and actions, as per the National Climate Change Policy (2019), adopt an integrated approach to cover climate-sensitive sectors exemplifying the inter-sectoral nature of the responses. The adaptation priorities cover eight thematic and four cross-cutting areas.

The thematic areas are:

  1. Agriculture and Food Security;
  2. Forests, Biodiversity and Watershed Conservation;
  3. Water Resources and Energy;
  4. Rural and Urban Settlements;
  5. Industry, Transport and Physical Infrastructure;
  6. Tourism, Natural and Cultural Heritage;
  7. Health, Drinking Water and Sanitation;
  8. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.

The cross-cutting areas are: 

1.Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), Livelihoods and Governance; 
2. Awareness Raising and Capacity Building; 
3. Research, Technology Development and Extension; 
4. Climate Finance Management.

Nepal will accelerate adaptation by implementing the National Environment Policy (2019), National Climate Change Policy (2019), Environment Protection Act (2019),  Environment Protection Regulation (2020), National Adaptation Program of Action  (NAPA) (2010), Framework on Local Adaptation Plans of Action (LAPA) (2019),
Disaster Risk Reduction National Strategic Plan of Action 2018 – 2030, Fifteenth Plan (2019/2020-2023/2024), and other national strategies and action plans. The key policy priorities of Nepal, on adaptation, include the following:

  •  By 2030, all 753 local governments will prepare and implement climate-resilient and gender-responsive adaptation plans. The plans will address climate change and disaster vulnerability and risks and prioritize adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management measures focusing on women, differently-abled, children, senior citizens, youth, Indigenous Peoples, economically deprived communities and people residing in climate-vulnerable geographical areas.
  •  The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) will be updated every ten years. Likewise, a National level Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (VRA) will be carried out every five years to inform climate resource allocation policies.
  • By 2025, institutional mechanisms will be established and/or operationalized including Environment Protection and Climate Change Management National Council, Inter-Ministerial Climate Change Coordination Committee (IMCCCC), thematic and cross-cutting working groups (TWGs/CWGs), Climate Change Research Centre, Provincial Climate Change Coordination Committee and local level institutional structures.
  • By 2021, GESI and Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, and Climate Resilient Planning and Budgeting Guidelines will be formulated.
  • By 2025, a strategy and action plan on gender-responsive climate-smart  technologies and practices will be prepared and implemented.
  •  By 2025, climate change-related education will be included in all secondary schools and 2,000 climate change adaptation resource persons will be mobilized locally.
  •  By 2025, climate-sensitive diseases surveillance systems will be strengthened through the integration of climate and weather information into existing surveillance systems.
  • By 2030, the population with access to the basic water supply will increase from 88% to 99%; and population with improved water supply will increase from 20% to 40% By 2025, climate risk assessment mechanisms will be integrated into WASH program planning and implementation cycle.
  •  Public Weather Services (PWS), including the Agro-Meteorological Information System, will be strengthened and established.
  • By 2030, a multi-hazard monitoring and early warning system covering all the provinces will be established.
  • By 2025, a national strategy and action plan on Loss and Damage (L&D) associated with climate change impacts will be devised.
  • By 2022, a Climate Finance Strategy, and National Capacity on Climate Finance Management will be formulated.
  • Adaptation measures based on circular economy and sustainable resource use will be developed and implemented.

Nepal is in the process of developing its National Adaptation Plan (NAP). Through this process, Nepal intends to implement medium and long-term adaptation needs, including urgent and immediate priorities. Key outputs of NAP include the following:

  •  The NAP will be formulated by 2021. It will incorporate adaptation and resilience milestones to be achieved in the short-term (by 2025), medium-term (by 2030) and long-term (by 2050).
  • By 2025, a Climate Information System will be established and operationalized.
  • By 2022, a NAP Monitoring, Reviewing and Reporting Framework will be developed and operationalized.