Abstract
We reviewed 76 climate change adaptation projects that were operational between 2010 and 2020. The review was followed by office and field visits for verification. The office visit helped crosscheck the findings, and the field observations carried out between December 2020 and April 2021 asked 24 key informants and collected supplementary information appraisal and indicator development. Of the CCA projects studied, the most (n = 48, 32%) were community-based initiatives, while the least (n = 12, 8%) were ecosystem-based interventions. The main environment-centered projects were Ecosystem-based Adaptations and Ecosystems Protecting Infrastructure and Communities (EPIC) while Enhanced Action of Inclusive CSOs for Participation in Climate Resilient Economic Growth (UTHAN), Initiative for CCA (ICCA), Support to Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalayas (HIMALICA), etc., adaptation projects were community-based. Capacity building and awareness-raising were the major thrust of the CbA projects, while the abatement of climate vulnerabilities and risks through nature-based solutions were priorities of EbA. Payment for Ecosystem services is a nature-based solution that can play a role in enhancing adaptation to climate change at a local scale by adopting community-based and culturally appropriate methods and enhancing and incentivizing adaptation measures and capacities. A set of 11 criteria and 40 indicators comprised the institutional and behavioral responses and the use of technologies, and the design of climate-resilient plans and climate-smart practices were proposed as appraisal measures to evaluate the success of CCA interventions. The importance of criteria and indicators lies in the fact that such a comprehensive assessment would lead to effective and efficient adaptation projects, which could help benefit beyond the borders. It also furthers ongoing adaptation interventions and is set to be an integral part of associated studies and monitoring and review of new adaptation interventions.
Highlights
With adherences to National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) programs (2010) and prioritized sectors of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) proWith adherences to NAPA programs (2010) and prioritized sectors of the NAP process (2015) and the NCCP (2019), the climate change adaptation (CCA) Interventions in Nepal ranged from supporting cess (2015) and the NCCP (2019), the CCA Interventions in Nepal ranged from supportcommunity-based adaptation (CbA) to enabling climate-resilient development planning ing community-based adaptation (CbA) to enabling climate-resilient development plan(CRDP)
2030) called actions to combat climate change and its impacts through strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity, the CCA projects aligned with the call and appeared the theHowever, investment was found to was havefound a declining after pattern
Community-based investments that worked at the community level in order to manage climate change impacts were the dominant CCA type in Nepal
Summary
Nepal’s population has surpassed 29 million [1], of which 79.4% people live in rural areas and depend on subsistence farming for their livelihoods [2,3]. The country experiences several climate hazards in its physiographic heterogeneity, and these are expected to be increased in the future [10]. Sustainability 2021, 13, 13195 vulnerability of the population, Nepal is a disaster hotspot [4]. The vagaries of climate change increase the vulnerability of the population who inhabit hills and mountains [13], and their livelihood stems from the agro-pastoral activities [14]. Rural hills and mountainous communities are expected to be affected more due to their extensive dependence on climate-sensitive livelihood options and limited adaptive capacity to adapt to the adverse climatic changes [15]. Subsistence agriculture and dependency on natural resources make the rural communities more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change [28]. In the light of these constraints, Nepal is trying to offset the climate-associated risks, vulnerabilities and impacts through efficient and effective adaptation practices, planning, programs, and projects
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