Results
Title

Nepal goes for clean development.

Authors

Mainali, Kumar P.

Abstract

This article informs that Nepal ratified the Kyoto Protocol on September 16, 2005, opening the door to foreign investment in carbon reduction projects. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), established under Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, allows industrialized countries to earn credits towards their own greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets by investing in emissions-reducing projects in developing countries. The most feasible CDM projects in Nepal are focused on biogas and micro-hydropower projects. Other schemes involve improved water mills, cooking stoves, and battery-powered vehicles. The good news is that substantial progress has already been made. Currently, nine projects to be considered as CDM project activities are being developed in Nepal, with the total potential GHG reductions estimated at 8 856 000 metric tons of CO2 in 10 years. However, implementation and verification remain problematic. Bikash Pandey, Country Director of Winrock International, Nepal, points out two obstacles to the enhancement of technical capacity. Although it has a huge potential for hydropower, only 10% of the country's commercial energy needs are currently met by this means, with the rest provided by fossil fuel.

Subjects

NEPAL; INTERNATIONAL environmental law; ENVIRONMENTAL policy; ENVIRONMENTAL impact analysis; ECOLOGY; DEVELOPING countries; GREENHOUSE gases

Publication

Frontiers in Ecology & the Environment, 2005, Vol 3, Issue 9, p468

ISSN

1540-9295

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.2307/3868626