The Environment-Friendly Local Governance Framework developed by the Government of Nepal has prioritised promotion of renewable and clean energy and energy efficient technology, Increase of greenery through tree plantation and management of gardens and parks.

According to the ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contribution’ report drafted by the Ministry of Population and Environment for submission to the Germany-based United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat, the framework also aims to plant trees in at least 10 per cent of the current open/barren land, promote rainwater harvesting and ponds construction, enhance waste management through environment friendly technology, promote sustainable and organic farming and reduction of agro-chemicals, increase disaster management skills at the local level and control industrial pollution through effective regulations

The Subsidy Delivery Mechanism for renewable energy was promoted since 2006 to ensure disbursement of subsidy in a cost effective and easy access manner in rural areas.

Recently, the government had launched an initiative to promote solar energy, renewable energy technologies and energy-efficient technology in urban areas.

The report said Nepal is planning to generate 4,000 MW of hydroelectricity by 2020 and 12,000 MW by 2030 and 2,100 MW of solar energy will be produced by 2030. Similarly, additional 220 MW of electricity from bio-energy by 2030 and 50 MW of electricity from small and micro hydropower plants will be generated besides increasing the share of biogas up to 10 per cent as energy for cooking in rural areas and equipping every household in rural areas with smokeless (improved) cooking stoves by 2030.

On afforestation and enhancing carbon sequestration, the government has a strategy to maintain at least 40 percent of the total area of the country under forests, said the report, adding it will further promote afforestation in public and private lands, environment-friendly infrastructure and conservation of biodiversity.

It also aims to enhance capacity of local communities in adaptation and resilience, widen carbon storage through sustainable forest management and reduce carbon emissions.

According to the report, one of the policies is dedicated to promote climate change adaptation, and reduce adverse impacts of climate change.

In order to make the forests a basis for national prosperity, the government has announced a forest decade for 2014-2023 (BS 2071-2080) and programmes such as ‘one house one tree’, ‘one village one forest’ and ‘one town one park’ to implement in the Forest Decade and make it a success.