The formulation and implementation of the Local Level Adaptation Action Plan (LAPA) launched by the government five years ago has been found to be weak. It is mentioned in the 62nd annual report released by the Office of the Auditor General last week that only about one third of the total 753 local levels have prepared and implemented adaptation plans.

The Ministry of Forestry and Environment had prepared a national blueprint (revised) of local adaptation in 076 and mandated the municipalities.

Maheshwar Dhakal, joint secretary of the climate change management division of the ministry, said that the expected progress has not been made due to the failure to explain climate change effects and adaptation at the local level. "First, it took time to practice the three-tier government structure implemented since 1974. In some cases, we (from the center) could not understand, and the local level may not want to understand," he said. The goal was to prepare and implement the plan . However, it is mentioned in the Auditor General's report that so far 263 locals have made plans and implemented them only at the level. Last year, only 22 local levels prepared and implemented adaptation action plans. In the year 079/80, not a single action plan was made.

According to the annual report of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, in the year 079/80, 600 local level adaptation plans were set to be made, but only 241 made adaptation plans. Similarly, in 078/79, 550 local level adaptation plans were planned, but only 241 made and implemented them. In the year 076/077, 280 local level adaptation plans were targeted and 219 were prepared and implemented.

The ministry itself has found the weakness that adaptation works are mainly implemented as projects dependent on external sources and are not integrated into the development plans of the local government, and the issue of climate change is of little interest to the local government .

Similarly, women and distressed households have not been able to get the expected benefits from the local adaptation program because mostly educated, male and accessible groups have influence in the decision-making process related to the formulation of adaptation action plans and the mobilization of resources.

Dhakal, the joint secretary of the climate change management division of the ministry, has also admitted that only the local level that has implemented climate-related programs, plans and projects has made adaptation plans. Naresh Sharma, Deputy Secretary of the Climate Change Management Division, said that mainly the local levels of Far West and Karnali Provinces have made adaptation plans.

Climate finance expert Raju Pandit Chhetri said that the adaptation action plan is a program set by the center and the local level did not adopt it and the center also did not pay attention to the necessary budget and technical capacity enhancement, so there was no progress.

'When there is any disaster and risk, the local government is the one that directly confronts the affected people,' he said, 'Although local adaptation is necessary, climate-related programs are not prioritized due to the ironic understanding that foreign aid (budget) will only work after the arrival of foreign aid (budget), and the budget should be spent on other development.' She said that the action plan could not be made.

"Our employees lack technical knowledge and skills, we as public representatives do not know about it," she said, "Since the Ministry of Forestry is its focal ministry, we need to help in the process of planning, because it is an international commitment, they only look for work reports, capacity building programs are also done at the center and city markets."

It is adaptation. According to the United Nations Federal Development Program, climate change adaptation is the countermeasure adopted by local, government and stakeholders to reduce the harmful effects of rising temperatures on the environment, society, public health and economy.

Adaptation measures address the challenges or risks posed by actual and potential climate change and seek opportunities to integrate into the human-made or natural environment. When preparing and implementing an adaptation action plan, the development infrastructures to be built at the local level as well as education, health, drinking water and local technology should be made climate sustainable. Likewise, priority should be given to the use of local resources, capabilities and knowledge in the practice of climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management.

Joint Secretary Dhakal said that the budget allocation and operation should be adapted to the environment, geography and needs of the local level. "Looking at the government agencies so far, it seems that around 6 percent of the total budget has been allocated for climate-friendly budget, we have said that 20 percent should be allocated by the end of the five-year plan," he said, "Even the activities that have been implemented as adaptation plans have not been properly accounted for." In this, monitoring and evaluation should be done by the local level itself, and the Ministry of Forestry and Environment of the state and the federal government should also do it as needed.