If gas imports to Nepal are disrupted for even a few days, most households will face immediate challenges. The importance of alternative measures starts with having a backup plan. We still vividly remember the hardships of the 2072 blockade when Nepalese people resorted to collective cooking by gathering firewood from forests. Even short-term disruptions in petroleum transportation can significantly impact daily life.

Nepal’s energy dependency is a dual challenge. While rural areas rely heavily on traditional fuel sources, urban households depend on imported fuels like LPG. Currently, 63% of our energy consumption comes from conventional biomass, while 27% relies on imported petroleum products. In rural areas, cooking with firewood, straw, and agricultural residues contributes to an estimated 25% of carbon emissions—a figure aligned with global averages. This dependence on both unsustainable biomass and costly imports highlights Nepal’s vulnerabilities, from environmental degradation to economic strain.

Environmental protection and climate change mitigation are global concerns, and Nepal is among the 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, according to the Global Climate Risk Index. Addressing these challenges requires collective action. All three levels of government, along with parliament, civil society, and stakeholders, must collaborate with strong commitment and coordinated efforts.

Nepal has recognized the urgency of sustainable solutions by embedding the right to a clean environment in its constitution. We have localized sustainable development goals (SDGs) and outlined our priorities in the SDG Roadmap 2030, the 16th Periodic Plan, and the Climate Change Policy. Our commitment includes achieving zero emissions by 2045 and ensuring universal access to clean energy. However, within these policy frameworks, critical questions remain about implementation and progress.

To build true energy resilience, we must move beyond dependency and invest in sustainable, locally viable solutions.

According to data from the Alternative Energy Center, Nepal has now built over 450,000 household biogas plants as part of a national priority to provide clean cooking energy. Additionally, more than 132,000 improved stoves have been installed, along with 369 large biogas plants that are currently producing and expanding energy access.

Beyond government records, the number of electric stove users is also on the rise, supported by various cooperatives, organizations, and both public and private sector initiatives. The potential for domestic biogas production and structurally modernized biogas technology appears promising, with the ability to significantly reduce reliance on imported cooking gas.

From the perspective of health, import substitution, and entrepreneurship, the promotion of biogas could make clean cooking energy self-sufficient. According to the National Census 2078, 51.2 percent of the population still relies on traditional biomass fuels such as wood, firewood, coal, sawdust, and cotton, with around 3 percent using cotton, which contributes to carbon emissions. Many rural households with access to cooking gas continue to depend on smoky fuels for regular use, posing health and environmental challenges.

In the COP-21 Paris Agreement, Nepal committed to ensuring that 25 percent of households would use electric stoves by 2030. However, by 2021, only 0.49 percent had adopted them. Similarly, the goal of building 500,000 improved stoves and 200,000 additional biogas plants by 2025 remains uncertain. These figures highlight the gap between commitments and actual progress.

Through the Green Climate Fund, Nepal is currently investing 21 million US dollars across 150 municipalities in 22 districts of the Terai region to promote clean energy and empower communities. Such initiatives play a vital role in preserving forests, protecting biodiversity, and mitigating environmental degradation. Expanding these programs nationwide could help reduce and replace carbon-emitting fuels, which currently account for more than 45 percent of Nepal’s energy consumption.

Achieving clean energy access as part of the Sustainable Development Goals requires national prioritization based on Nepal’s existing conditions, strengths, and potential. However, this expansion demands essential prerequisites, including technological advancements, capital investment, skilled manpower, and effective promotional strategies. Revising policies, laws, procedures, and guidelines is crucial, as mere prioritization on paper will not lead to tangible outcomes. Implementation must be accelerated.

Every public institution should be evaluated for climate compatibility to ensure proper progress. International commitments cannot be fulfilled through national declarations alone—strong physical infrastructure and institutional capacity are necessary. Unfortunately, Nepal has yet to develop the required institutional framework to ensure widespread clean energy access and development.

To bring clean energy into every household, increased awareness and promotion of existing technology are essential. Encouraging local manufacturing industries to develop necessary technologies and physical materials will facilitate this transition.

Achieving these goals requires leadership with a strong will and commitment to reform obstructive policies, laws, and regulations. Protecting communities, nature, and the environment while addressing climate change risks demands collective effort and genuine implementation of global commitments.

Climate change is a global crisis, yet Nepal faces disproportionate consequences despite contributing minimally to the problem. It is crucial for all stakeholders to advocate for and secure global support, ensuring Nepal receives fair recognition and assistance for its efforts toward clean energy transition and climate resilience.

Source: Kantipur