The government has announced the formation of the 'Nepal Carbon Authority' in the policy and program for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/084. President Ram Chandra Poudel announced the formation of the 'Nepal Carbon Authority' in the policy and program presented in the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament.

'The RED-Plus program will be expanded by forming the Nepal Carbon Authority. Direct benefits from carbon credits will be ensured to community forest groups. The use of indigenous wood in building construction and industry will be encouraged through policy reforms,' the program states in point 23.

Maheshwar Dhakal, spokesperson for the Ministry of Forest and Environment, said that the authority is trying to integrate and facilitate carbon trade from the energy and forest sectors through a single mechanism.

'The concept of the Nepal Carbon Authority seems to be trying to integrate and facilitate carbon trading from the energy and forest sectors through a single mechanism, which can make it more effective,' he told Kantipur, 'Nepal has the potential to benefit greatly from the forest we have protected and the large amount of hydropower (target of 30,000 MW) that will be produced in the future.'

Along with the authority, the program mentions integrating pollution, infrastructure and other scattered fees being collected in the name of environmental protection and converting them into a 'green tax' system. 'Double taxation agreements will be expanded with various countries. A policy will be adopted to gradually convert pollution, infrastructure and other scattered fees into an integrated 'green tax' system,' point 4 of the program states, 'Low-level billing will be controlled at customs points. The refund system for all taxes, including value added, will be made automatic and time-bound.'

Similarly, to link forests with enterprise development, the development of timber, herbs, Ayurvedic medicines and forest-based industries through sustainable forest management has been put in point 21. It seems that the use of modern technology has been given priority in forest management. According to point 24 of the policy and program, a 'Forest Fire High Alert Center' will be established, and a plan has been included to monitor 'real-time' fires and forest encroachment through drones and technology.

Similarly, to control increasing urban pollution, the 'Kathmandu Valley Air Quality Improvement Action Plan' will be updated and implemented, and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process will be simplified and made more transparent through the e-portal.

Point 29 mentions that 'Integrated Watershed Management' will be implemented towards the protection of natural heritage, considering rivers as the basis of human existence and biodiversity. In addition, 'Himalayan Origin Certified Water' branding has been put in point 61 to give Nepal's water a distinct identity in the global market. The program also mentions installing an early warning system to reduce human-wildlife conflict and making the compensation system for those affected effective.   

Spokesperson Dhakal said that the issue of climate change has been given priority in this program. 'For the first time, the Nepal government is trying to internalize the climate change agenda in thematic ministries such as physical infrastructure and water,' he said. 'To make Nepal climate resilient, city planning should also be promoted in a climate-friendly manner, which will help achieve the goal of sustainable development.'