KATHMANDU: Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Geeta Chaudhary, has said that the approval of various projects proposed by Nepal for mitigation of climate change and enhancing adaptation capacity is an important achievement.

The 47th meeting of the Adaptation Fund (TAF) on Friday approved all three projects proposed by Nepal for enhancing resilience to the impacts of climate change.

“The approval of Nepal’s three projects is a significant achievement at a time when there is increasing global demand for climate finance and limited source of adaptation fund,” she said.

Minister Chaudhary said that this achievement will help in managing the economic burden on the environmental sector. He also said that it will contribute significantly to reducing the risk and problems of various natural disasters seen in Nepal in recent times and to reduce the damage caused by the effects of climate change.

The ‘Green Koshi’ project is also one of the approved projects. A financial assistance of USD 99,27,750 has been proposed for the project, which aims to conserve the ecosystem and enhance climate resilience in the Koshi region through nature-based solutions. The implementing agency of this project is the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC).

Minister Chaudhary, who is also the President of NTNC, said that Nepal has been receiving international support not only through this project but also from other areas.

Likewise, the ‘Strengthening Adaptation and Flood and Landslide Early Warning for the Hindu Kush Himalaya’ project was approved with the objective of enhancing climate adaptation capacity by strengthening flood and landslide early warning system in the Himalayan region.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), the implementing agency, has proposed three million US dollars for the project.

The third project focuses on building resilient communities in Lumbini Province through locally-led, nature-friendly climate action. Financial assistance of USD 4,99,707 has been proposed for this project. Its implementing agency is UN Habitat.

Minister Chaudhary hopes that the three projects will contribute to the conservation of ecosystems, strengthening flood and landslide early warning systems, and enhancing the climate resilience of local communities.

The adaptation fund approval will support to advance programs related to nature-based solutions, disaster risk reduction and capacity building of local communities to address the impacts of climate change in Nepal.