Preliminary National Diagnostic

for Environment Statistics

Country: Nepal

Presenter: Dhundiraj Lamichhane, Director, Central Bureau of

Statistics

Event: SSWA Sub-regional Workshop on Environmental Statistics

Date: 6-8 February, 2017

Outline

• National's vision for sustainable development, biodiversity, green economy and ecosystems • Sustainable development policy priorities and Policy Tools • Stakeholders in environment, sustainable development and green economy policy • Important interdepartmental institutional mechanisms • Role of the National Statistical Office • key documents and research initiatives that are related to the policy priorities. • International activities focussed on statistical development • Priority accounts/indicators • Constraints of priority accounts/Indicators

National vision for sustainable development, biodiversity,

green economy and ecosystem

14th Plan

• Vision

Sustainable development through clean and healthy environment

• Mission

Conducting climate-change-adaptive development programs

• Goal

Programming human activities and development process according to concept of green development and in view with adapting climate change

Sustainable Development Goals, 2015, Nepal

• Achieving the balance among economic, social and environmental dimensions, Nepal aims to graduate from LDC to DC by 2022 ensuring quality of life, peace and prosperity and environmental integrity (NPC, 2015).

National vision

MoFSC : National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, NBSAP

(2014-2020)

• Vision : Conservation of biodiversity for sound and resilient

ecosystems and national prosperity

• Mission : Significantly enhance the integrity of Nepal’s ecological

systems by 2020

• Goal : Contributing to human well-being and sustainable

development

The Constitution of Nepal

• The Constitution of Nepal, Article 30 states “Every citizen shall

have the right to live in a clean and healthy environment”

S.D. Policy Priorities (Based on NPC Periodic Plans)

Priorities for environment sector development: • Clean environment

• Green jobs and poverty reduction

• Climate adaptation and resilience

• Promotion of alternative energy

• Low-Carbon Development path

• Resource efficiency

• Gender equality and social inclusiveness

• Disaster risk reduction

• Increase forest coverage

Priorities for generation of Statistics and use:

• Enhancing the production of timely, reliable, disaggregated and demand-driven sectoral statistics.

• Maximizing the use of quality statistics to foster evidence based planning and policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation from central to local level.

Policy tools : many exist but implemented in uncoordinated

approach

Acts and Regulations

Constitution of Nepal

National Periodic Plans

Human Rights Commission Act, 1997

Social Welfare Act, 1992

Forest Act, 1993 / Forest Regulation, 1994

Environment Protection Act, 1997/ Environment

Protection Regulation, 1997

Plant Protection Act, 2007/ Plant Protection

Rules, 2010

Water Resources Act, 1992

Soil and Watershed Conservation Act, 1982

Solid Waste Management Act, 2011

Poverty Alleviation Fund Act, 2006

National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act,

1973

National Trust for Nature Conservation Act,

1982

Statistics Act, 1958

Policies and Strategies National Strategy for Disaster Risk Management, 2009

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, 2014

National Pollution Control Strategy and Action Plan, 2016

Nepal Health Sector Strategy, 2015

National Education Plan

Climate Change Policy, 2011

National Land Use Policy, 2012

Water Resource Strategy, 2002

National Agricultural Policy, 2004

Rural Energy Policy, 2011

Forest Sector Strategy (2016-2025)

Environment Friendly Vehicle and Transport Policy, 2014

National REDD Strategy

Low-Carbon Economic Development Strategy

Policy tools continued… Standards

Nepal Vehicle Mass Emission Standard,

2002 upgraded in 2012

National Ambient Air Quality Standard,

2003 upgraded in 2012

Standard on Emission and Chimney Height

for Brick Kilns, 2008

Standard on Emission and Chimney

Height for Industrial Boiler, 2012

Standard on Emission for Diesel

Generator, 2012

Standard on Emission for Cement and

Crusher Industries, 2012

Environmental Standards for Incinerators

in 2012

Programs and Initiatives Poverty Alleviation Fund

Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction

Environment Friendly Local Government Framework

National Adaptation Programs of Actions (NAPA)

Local Adaptation Plans for Actions (LAPA)

National Adaptation Plans (NAP)

Nepal Climate Change Support Program (NCCSP)

Community Forestry Program

Climate Smart Village and Climate Smart City

REDD (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation) Implementation Unit

President Chure Terai Madhesh Conservation Program

Pilot Program on Climate Resilience (PPCR)

Hariyo Ban (Green Forest) Program

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

Community based Flood Risk Reduction Program

GLOF (Glacier Lake Outburst Floods) Risk Reduction Program

Institutions Stakeholders in environment sustainable development and green economy policy:

• Governmental Non-Governmental

Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation United Nations Organization

Ministry of Population and Environment IUCN Nepal

Ministry of Agriculture Development WWF Nepal

National Planning Commission ICIMOD

Central Bureau of Statistics

Department of Environment

Department of Hydrology and Meteorology

Department of Forests

Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation

Department of Soil and Water Conservation

Department of Plant Resources

Alternative Energy Promotion Centre

Department of Agriculture

Office of the Metropolitan City

Universities

Institutions continued…. • Institutional mechanisms in place to make sustainability and green economy

decisions:

– Multi-stakeholder Climate Change Initiative Coordination Committee

– Climate Change Council

– National Planning Commission

– Ministerial Council

– Parliamentary Environment Protection Committee

• The role of the National Statistical office:

Statistics Production/generation

– Social, economic and environmental statistics through various surveys

Coordination

– Harmonization of Statistical activities.

Standardization

– Production and implementation of uniform environment related statistical terms and concepts

– Ensuring data quality in environment related surveys through Survey Clearance and Approval

System.

Research and Development

– Advocate for innovative methods, infrastructure and technology for data collection to meet and keep pace with user demands for more timely and detailed Environment and Natural Resources data.

Knowledge: key national data sources that can be used as a basis for further development.

Land and Forest :

• State of Nepal's Forest, 2016 (http://www.dfrs.gov.np) Good, High Resolution images

and field data

• Protected Areas (http://dnpwc.gov.np) Good data with ecosystem and species list

• Land Cover (http://www.icimod.org/) Moderate resolution, 1Km ×1Km

• National Agriculture Sample Census (http://www.cbs.gov.np) Good, High Sample size

• Nepal Agriculture Statistics (http://www.moad.gov.np), detailed

Energy

• Energy statistics (Solar, Wind, Mini-microhydro,Biomass, Biogas, Biofuel-AEPC

(http://www.aepc.gov.np)

• Hydro power of Nepal(Ippan, 2012) www.ippan.org.np/publications Modeled

scenarios

• Emission Inventories (http://www.pollution.gov.np ) Good, every minute emission data

• Annual Report -Neapal Oil Corporation Limited (http://www.nepaloil.com.np) Good,

every year oil and gas data

Knowledge: key national data sources that can be used as a basis for further development.

Water • Population Census/Nepal sample census of Agriculture /Census of Manufacturing

establishment (http://www.cbs.gov.np),

• Hydro power of Nepal(Ippan, 2012) www.ippan.org.np/publications

• Annual Report of Nepal Water Supply Corporation (http://www.nwsc.gov.np)

Others • Environment Statistics of Nepal (http://www.cbs.gov.np)

• Compendium of Environment Statistics of Nepal (http://www.cbs.gov.np)

• Environment Protection Expenditures (Provision of Climate Change Budget Code in National Development Programs) (http://www.npc.gov.np)

• Imports and exports of natural resources (http://atlas.media.mit.edu/)

• Species Diversity in Nepal (http://www.iucn.org) Good

• Nepal Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2014-2020). (http://www.mfsc.gov.np)

• Climate Change Vulnerability Mapping (http://www.mope.gov.np) Good with over 140 indicators

• Extreme climate forecasting (http://www.dhm.gov.np) Good, with about 56 stations in operation

• Nepal Disaster Report (http://www.drrportal.gov.np

Quality of data • Periodicity and timeliness of data is lacking

• No practice of measuring accuracy, validity and reliability of data

• Lack of metadata and technical notes explaining statistical indicators

• Infrequent and delay in timely release of data and publications - most of the outputs come in the form of annual reports only.

• Inadequate number of data generation/collection centers

• Inadequate expertise in data generation

How to improve quality • Adopting Standard methodologies

• Enhancing Coordination among different stakeholder

• Sharing data on public platforms/web

• Establishing Integrated National Environmental Information Management System

• Setting up validation mechanism and standards

• Making data users friendly

Most of the Environment statistics are generated from administrative records, so computing indicators from them requires standardized methods

Knowledge: quality of data source

Context Other national statistical development activities • CBS is finalizing its first NSDS where implementation of SEEA is

included • Paris21 National Statistical Development Strategy (NSDS-

CBS/UNDP)

• CBS is conducting Climate Change Survey. • SNA 2008 Implementation Strategy has been included in NSDS • Production and compilation of Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs) related indicators by the NPC/CBS.

• A separate section has been established in CBS for dealing with environment statistics and accounting

• CBS is preparing SEEA account (Pilot Work for Land and Forest account)

• CBS is planning to prepare SEEA in energy and water account in the next phase.

• Data Quality Assurance Framework (DQAF- NRB/IMF)

Context

International activities focused on environment,

sustainable development, biodiversity or green

economy o Adaptation and Mitigation activities

o Technology transfer and development

o Capacity building

o Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (WB/ADB/IFC)

o Climate Smart Village and Cities

o Forest conservation and livelihood improvement (Hariyo Ban, CF

support)

o Carbon trade and green economy (REDD)

o GLOF Risk Reduction

o Implant Environment Friendly activities (EFLG)

Existing compilations

• SEEA Central Framework Accounts – Land and Forest accounts have been initiated as a pilot project with the

technical support of UNESCAP.

– Stakeholders workshop and feasibility study have been completed as component activities of the accounting process.

• SEEA Ecosystem Accounts – Not initiated yet.

• Other FDES indicators – 8th series of Environment Statistics of Nepal published in 2013 based on FDES

1995

Statistics/Indicators covered:

– Economic Issues , Social and Demographic Issues, Air and Climate, Land and Soil, Water, Other Natural Resources, Waste, Human Settlements, Natural Disasters

– 3rd series of Compendium of Environment Statistics of Nepal published in 2015

Priorities for action to develop selected environment statistics

• SEEA- LAND, FOREST, WATER, ENERGY

• Compiling environment and natural resource statistics using FDES 2013

• Emission inventory, emission mapping and modelling development for future intervention

• Carbon trade

• National database on EIA and IEE projects

• Solid waste management

• Clean and healthy environment

• Sustainable forest management

• Carbon sequestration

• Poverty reduction through green growth

• Promotion of clean energy

• Pesticide management

Constraints

• Ready to test

– Carbon sequestration mapping

• Need capacity building

– Emission inventory

– Carbon trade

– Pesticide management

• Need data development

– Clean and healthy environment (indicators are emission inventories on air, water, soil and sound)

• Need institutional coordination or financing

– Database on EIA and IEE projects

Constraints: Technology, Infrastructure, Financial and human resources, Integrated guideline

Constraints

• Ready to test

– SEEA - Land and Forest

Account

Constraints:

– Knowledge of remote

sensing and spatial mapping

• Need capacity building

– SEEA- Energy and Water

– Natural Resource

Accounting/EEA

Constraints:

– HR Capacity and expertise

– Finance

– Institutionalization

– Coordination in Data

Sharing, Development, etc.

• Need data development

– Environment and Natural Resources Statistics

Constraints:

– HR Capacity and expertise, Budget,

– Coordination in Data Sharing, Development, etc.

• Need institutional coordination or financing

– Environment related statistical terms and concepts

– Environment Statistics (indicators of FDES framework)

Constraints:

- No mandatory Data Sharing Mechanism (DSM)

- No Oversight Agency (OA)

Opportunities: Priority Actions

1. Compiling environment and natural resource statistics using FDES

2013

Actions: Establish data Sharing mechanism, Sequence of training on sectoral

statistics of environment and natural resource statistics, Localization of FDES,

standardization of concept and definitions.

Opportunity: Environment Statistics of Nepal and Compendium have been

prepared which partially follow FDES guideline, support of stakeholders

2. SEEA - LAND, FOREST, WATER, ENERGY

Actions: Training on remote sensing, Knowledge transfer on accounting

system, stakeholder identification and formation of TWG, Valuation of Forests and ecosystem services, Program and Budgeting.

Opportunity: SEEA-CF adopted in NSDS, 14th periodic plan, Technical

cooperation of UNESCAP underway.

Opportunities: Priority Actions

1. Emission inventory

Actions: Vehicle emission inventory, source contributor, trans-

boundary air pollution study, industries and agriculture emission

Opportunity: Pragmatic and feasible recommendation to promote

Kathmandu as cycle city, promote mass transportation, policy

suggestion for crop residue management

2. Carbon trade

Actions: carbon sequestration rate and inventory, carbon

certification

Opportunity: Promote greenery and create green jobs, livelihood

alternative

Conclusions

• Environment-specific administrative record keeping should be standardized along with conducting censuses or sample surveys

• Institutional and capacity development program for the generation of quality environment statistics

• Development of Inter-institutional collaboration Mechanism on Environment (ICEM)

• Compiling environment statistics using FDES greatly helps Prepare SEEA

References GoN (2016), Constitution of Nepal, 2072

NPC (2016), An Approach Paper of 14th Plan (2016/17-2018/19)

DoENV, 2016. National Pollution Control Strategy and Action Plan

IPPAN, 2012. Power requirements in future energy scenarios of Nepal

MoFSC, 2014. National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2014-2020)

MoPE, 2016. Intended Nationally Determined Contribution Report, submitted to UNFCCC secretariat

NPC, 2015. Sustainable Development Goals, Preliminary Report

Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (http://www.aepc.gov.np)

Central Bureau of Statistics (http://www.cbs.gov.np)

Department of Environment (http://www.doenv.gov.np)

Department of Environment Pollution Portal (http://www.pollution.gov.np)

Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (http://www.dhm.gov.np)

Department of National parks and Wildlife Conservation (http://www.dnpwc.gov.np)

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (http://www.icimod.org)

Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation (http://www.mofsc.gov.np)

Ministry of Population and Environment (http://www.mope.gov.np)

National Planning Commission (http://www.npc.gov.np)

Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal (http://www.drrportal.gov.np)

Nepal Law Commission (http://www.lawcommission.gov.np/en/)

The Observatory of Economic Complexity (http://atlas.media.mit.edu)

State of Nepal's Forest, 2016 (http://www.dfrs.gov.np)

Thank You !