Climate Change and UNFCCC Negotiation Process

This resource book, published by the Government of Nepal's Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology in November 2012, serves as a guide for climate change negotiators. It details the institutional and procedural framework of the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, analyzes the specific climate vulnerabilities of Nepal—particularly in its mountain regions—and outlines national policy responses, including the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) and REDD+ initiatives. The document emphasizes the need for increased international climate finance, technology transfer, and gender-sensitive policies to support Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

• The UNFCCC negotiation process relies heavily on consensus for decision-making because formal Rules of Procedure, specifically regarding voting, have not yet been approved.
• Nepal is identified as a global climate change hotspot and was ranked by Maplecroft in 2010 as the fourth most vulnerable country in the world.
• Climate projections for Nepal indicate a mean annual temperature increase of 1.2C by 2030, 1.7C by 2050, and 3C by 2100 compared to a pre-2000 baseline, with summer precipitation projected to increase by 15 to 20% nationwide.
• Nepal's contribution to global annual greenhouse gas emissions is negligible at 0.025%, yet the country faces severe impacts including glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), landslides, and food insecurity.
• The Government of Nepal established a Climate Change Council in 2009, chaired by the Prime Minister, to coordinate national efforts and integrate climate change into the national development agenda.
• Nepal's Climate Change Policy of 2011 mandates that at least 80% of total funds allocated for climate change must reach local communities for grass-root level activities.
• The National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), prepared in 2010, identifies urgent adaptation needs with an estimated implementation cost of US$ 350 million.
• Nepal has faced challenges with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) due to complex validation procedures and additionality criteria, though it successfully issued CERs for two biogas projects in 2011.
• The REDD+ framework in Nepal is managed through a three-tier structure consisting of an Apex Body, a REDD Working Group, and a REDD Forestry and Climate Change Cell under the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation.
• Climate change disproportionately affects women in Nepal due to increased drudgery in water and fuel-wood collection and higher mortality rates during disasters.
• Nepal advocates for a global temperature rise limit of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels and argues that climate finance should be 'additional' to Official Development Assistance (ODA).
• Between 2007/08 and 2011/12, annual expenditure on climate change programs in Nepal ranged from 1.3% to 2.1% of GDP, with 55% of total government climate expenditure coming from donor support.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2012). Climate Change and UNFCCC Negotiation Process. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Climate-Change-and-UNFCCC-Negotiation-Process.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Climate Change and UNFCCC Negotiation Process. 2012. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Climate-Change-and-UNFCCC-Negotiation-Process.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Climate Change and UNFCCC Negotiation Process |date=November 2012 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Climate-Change-and-UNFCCC-Negotiation-Process.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2012climate, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Climate Change and UNFCCC Negotiation Process}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2012}, month = nov, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Climate-Change-and-UNFCCC-Negotiation-Process.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }