active· Climate· Education

Improving the resilience of communities to risks posed by natural disasters and climate change in Nepal

Natural disasters, which occur almost annually, repeatedly demonstrate how vulnerable the population of Nepal is in such situations. In the south of the country, more than half of the land is used for agriculture and 70% of the population is employed in this sector. However, many of the communities are threatened by flooding during the rainy season. If the harvest is poor or fails altogether, supplies are destroyed and people lose their animals, and self-sufficient food security is also threatened. It is therefore important to establish local mechanisms for disaster response, to initiate adaptation to the challenges posed by climate change and to promote the development of disaster guidelines at all levels of the country. This is being done, among other things, by strengthening the capacities of communities and local governments in the areas of climate protection, disaster prevention and emergency response. In addition, climate-friendly agriculture and green employment opportunities for women and young leaders are being promoted. The project is primarily aimed at schools, local government agencies, young entrepreneurs, women, young people and children. Childrens eco-clubs have been set up and information desks on climate protection have been installed in schools. The local government and schools are being supported in the development of environmentally friendly model schools with green components, including energy efficiency (solar energy) and waste management. Young businesses receive training on green jobs and business plans, including the promotion of worm composting. In addition, there will be at least one ‘climate-friendly agriculture and ecotourism village’ in each community. These are some of the measures designed to raise awareness of climate protection and disaster prevention among the target groups.