Marriage of Trolley Buses

“Marriage? Whose marriage in this month??, “such frequent voices were heard outside the Office of Trolley Bus Office, on Wednesday, 12th of August. While the season is monsoon, the month of Shrawan which is not conventionally the time for marriage in Nepal, Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) in coordination with Clean Air Network Nepal, Clean Energy Nepal and the workers of Trolley Bus Office organized a TROLLEY MARRIAGE with the theme of “Sustainable Transport for Sustainable Future”.
To draw the attention of the Government and the concern agency for the successful execution of Trolley Bus, the pioneer electric vehicle of the country, program was being designed. At the program, two trolley buses were made Bride and the Groom for the marriage. The Trolley Bus has been facing the continuous ups and down in its history of 34 years and mostly down in the recent years.

Relatively, an interaction program was organized on the very day to discuss on the challenges and the future of Sustainable Urban Transport. Mr. Bhushan Tuladhar, Environmentalist, Mr. Ratna Sansar Shrestha, Energy Expert, Mr. Bijay Man Sherchan, President of Electric Vehicles Association, Mr. Punya Prasad Bhandari and President of Office of the Trolley Bus were among the speakers on the interaction.
“The electric vehicles are environmentally and economically important for the nation like us, rich in potential hydropower generation,” said Mr. Ratna Sansar Shrestha. Speaking at the same program, Mr Sherchan stressed the fact that there are no alternatives to electric vehicles for the betterment of our environment in Kathmandu. He also urged all attendees to work to revive the pioneer Electric Vehicle of the nation.

The unique wedding was organized to mark the first anniversary of NYCA and the 9th International Youth Day at the Trolley Bus Office in Kathmandu.

Youth for Climate Change and Clean Air in Nepal

To capitalize youth power for disseminating environment friendly attitudes and behaviors among general people and to provoke them for real actions on clean air and climate change, Clean Air Network Nepal is mobilizing a youth forum.

By Gopal Raj Joshi

Youths are energetic and dynamic by nature. If youth power is mobilized sensibly they can play a vital role as a change agent to transform the society. Realizing the potentiality of youth power, Clean Air Network Nepal constituted a youth forum known as Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA). NYCA is a youth led coalition of youth groups or organization across the country. It is working as sister organization of CANN to manage education and awareness campaign on clean air and climate change targeted to various segments of society particularly focusing on youths and policy makers. It is also networking with national and international youth coalition to enhance its niche and partnership.
Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) in association with the Clean Energy Nepal and CANN has been conducting various activities to sensitize youths on issues of Clean Air and Climate Change. These activities include regular training, workshop, interaction programs and public events on various occasions. The knowledge and information gained during such program is not limited with them, the members of NYCA are sharing the information with peers, school students and general public through various college and school based activities.

Youth voice for policy advocacy is another thrust area of NYCA. In this context, NYCA is involved in various policy advocacy and lobbying campaign. Awareness and sensitization campaign for Constitution Assembly members is one of such commendable campaign. Nepal is now under the process of formulating new constitution through newly elected constitution assembly. To include concrete provisions for safeguarding environment and ensuring the right to clean air in upcoming constitutions, constitution assembly members need be sensitized and awared on these issues. For this purpose, NYCA is launching home visit campaign for members of major parties. NYCA has also drafted a policy briefing paper and handed over to constitution assembly members and ministry of environment.

Although NYCA is a new youth forum, it has been successful to create good impression among the youths, governments’ agency and other stakeholders. CANN has been benefitted by public awareness and continuous policy advocacy campaign done by NYCA thus contributing for exposure and existence.

Stakeholders meet to build partnership for clean air in Nepal

Various stakeholders pledged for building partnership for clean air in Nepal during National Stakeholders’ Meeting organized by Clean Air Network Nepal on 31st Dec 2008 in Kathmandu, Nepal.

By Gopal Raj Joshi

Honorable Minister Er. Ganesh Shah of Ministry of Environment Science and Technology inaugurated the meeting. In his keynotes, he suggested to build a wide network and coordinate among the stakeholders. He also added to build pressure to government for reviewing and effective implementation of policies. “I assured to you all to do my best to tackle challenges of air pollution”, he said.
Mr. Gopal Raj Joshi, Network coordinator, Clean Air Network Nepal (CANN) welcomed the participated stakeholders. He highlighted the objectives of the program, vision, activities and way ahead of CANN.
“Some of the major initiatives are taken by MOEST to control air pollution and PM 10 of Kathmandu Valley is much above the national standard “, said Mr Biswa Babu Pudasaini, MOEST.
Local Pollution not only affects the local environment but the air pollutant has trans-boundary effects, said Mrs Bidhya Banmali Pradhan from ICIMOD. “This is the Anthropocene era and power driver of air pollution is humankind, she further added.
Mr. Bhusan Tuladhar, Executive Director of ENPHO presented on the status, challenges and opportunities of air pollution of Kathmandu Valley. “ There is an increase in COPD and other respiratory infection patients and death tolls highly increases in winter approaches due to increase of air pollutants during this season, he said. “Transportation is the major cause of air Pollution and development of transport sector must be people centric rather than vehicle centric.
“Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln is energy efficient and environment friendly technology and such technology must be promoted and supported by government through incentives and financial support, said Mr. Shansank Pandey,VSBK Program Nepal.
The program ended with the group discussion and sharing of ideas on the priorities and action plan on the transport, industry and policy in Nepal.