ECO-FRIENDLY APPROACH OF NEPAL WHILE ACCEPTING INDUSTRIALIZATION PHASE.

A greener approach to its industrialization phase which now Nepal is entering into is advisable and to which Nepal has an advantage than the other industrialized countries is that they’ve had to revisit their traditional approach. Tourism is a smokeless industry and contributes 3.9% of the total GDP of Nepal needs to be increased.

     Majority of the people living in Nepal are dependent on agriculture and forestry for their livelihoods, but, this does not mean that Nepal is not seeing environment related problems. Environmental degradation is on the rise with an increase in urban population, modern agriculture and unsustainable forestry management practices.

     In 2013 Nepal adopted a national policy known as the Environmentally Friendly Local Government Framework with the support of UN Environment, UNDP and other development partners. Green Nepal from household doorsteps to the corridors of power are brilliant steps being taken. Nepali citizens were being incentivized to install solar panels, manage water and sanitation, practice organic farming, prepare for disasters.

     Environmentally friendly technology like improved cookstoves and trickle-drip irrigation systems have changed the outlook. Segregating waste and ensuring authorities provide waste management amenities are also some steps being taken. Water mills , biogas units, micro and pico hydro and capacity training as priority renewable energy technologies are way beyond expectations steps.

     District Climate and Energy Plans(DCEP) have taken initiatives to integrate climate change systematically, gender and social inclusion into energy planning, and, generating ideas on assessing vulnerabilities of energy resources and opportunities created by climate change. Green initiatives from government include Alternative Energy Promotion Centre(AEPC) which looks into the objective of developing and promoting renewable/alternative energy technologies in Nepal such as  Biomass, Mini/Micro Hydro, Improved Water Mill, Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Geo Thermal.

     Some of the eco-friendly brands in Nepal include Dinadi, Marina Vaptzarova, Kokroma, Paila, Local Women’s Handicrafts, Tyre Treasures, Nepal Knotcraft Centre, Aamo by Aayusha Shrestha , Aji’s, The Shampoo Bar Kathmandu, Nepal Blue Mountain, The White Yak, Tatwa, Danfe Works, Vegan Dairy Nepal, Kolpa, Dharti Mata Sustainable Workshop, Ekadesma, HattiHatti, Bottles to Beads.

     Eco-friendly stores viz. The Local Project, Karma Coffee Nepal.

     Recycling companies in Nepal include Doko Recyclers, Khaali Sisi, Green Road Waste Management, Clean Up Nepal.

     Avery renowned mobile service provider Ncell is also taking up a lot of green initiatives in its structure which is another positive coming from the country with the highest peak in the world.

     Eco-friendly approach of Nepal while accepting industrialization phase has many lessons for the world to come and explore this tourism country which is always so welcoming and is simultaneously creating an environment for interested investors for investment into shares of companies and start-up addressing the need towards Earth-friendly investment opportunities.

This article contains views and opinions of our guest writer Rahul Rohan who is a pupil teacher at Amity University Lucknow and is in no way an attempt to cause any misconception among its readers.

Image courtesy: Photo by ready made from Pexels 

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