Background:
Climate change is the global challenge of our time for sustainable development whose impact is of great concern to humanity. In Nepal we are already starting to become aware of recent changes in our climate and the implications this is having for our society and our environment. Although Nepal has a negligible share in the global emissions of greenhouse gases, it is more vulnerable to climate change impact due to its fragile mountain ecosystem. Climate change is happening and it is affecting every corner of the world. However, there is more general information available on climate change and it's impact. The information lacks at local and specific level regarding the extent and pattern of climate variables. These temperature, the locations of high or low trend, and pattern of climatic variable like precipitation. The most important thing is how people understand the climate change although climate change has several impacts on the rural community. With the aim to disseminate knowledge what they experience in daily life activities ,Community awareness program successfully conducted in Mahendrakot VDC ward no-2 of Kapilvastu district. The program was conducted informally with 15 participants.
Participants:
Majority of the participants were female including marginalized and different ethnic group The program was focused for the female thinking, that the women are the ones who can bring the lasting impact.
objective:
To create awareness among rural people about the use of alternative energy source.
To disseminate information about the climate change to the local people.
To make people realize about the use of alternative energy and its contribution in reducing the impact of climate change.
Discussion:
Community awareness program in the Shantipur village of Mahendrakot VDC ward no-2 was conducted with the aim to raise awareness among the local people. Briefing about the climate change and alternative energy source was done. The program was interactive discussing about the climate change, alternative energy and other ecofriendly behavior. The rural people show more curiosity about the changing climate , its impacts and the reason behind it. Some of the participants commit to reduce the use of plastic and reuse it. They insist that they experience the change but were unknown about the cause and the change they can bring through their daily behavior. Some of the participants talk about the rainfall pattern and rising temperature in the area and ask for the solution how we can reduce it. Although they use alternative energy still they are unknown about the climate change and the contribution of alternative energy in reducing its impact. The villager are establishing bo i-gas plant only because different organization are providing expenses for the construction of the plant. They bear all the expenses required for the establishment ranging form the instrument needed to labor wage. According to the respondent, they are not conscious about the changing climate and its impact, they also want to live sophisticated life instead of keeping livestock in house and rearing them. They told that the LP gas is more cheaper than the bio-gas and also more easier to use.Besides they recommend to conduct such programs in the village and in the some school to disseminate the knowledge about the issues and make them aware.
Conclusion:
It was found that most of the people are unknown about the word climate change and its impact directly. The rural people relay on the forest resource for their livelihood. They use alternative energy only because they are benefitted directly by providing money.
10 Comments
I am sure Tunza will appreciate your efforts of taking this furthest to the country side where people are locked out of the information age.Great exercise BEE!!!
Posted 30-12-2014 18:44
Good Job Bhavana and education is a powerful tool to tackle environmental issues as is said Knowledge is Power
Posted 28-12-2014 14:26
You did a great job dii.Community awareness is really an effective way of making people about these burning issues.:)
Posted 27-12-2014 12:15
Commendable , Bhawana. Awareness is the key to solving climate change issues. Women in such villages/remote areas are least aware of such issues and are the most impacted so it is indeed extremely important to educate them and you have done a great job there. Keep it up!
Posted 27-12-2014 01:02
Thanks for the great report Bhawana.
Climate change is vulnerable issue in case of Nepal. It's sad to to see developing countries despite leaving so less carbon footprint ) like ours being severely effected by the todus changing climatic scenarios. And it's Women in general who are more vulnerable than men. Good to know youths like you reaching towards them and making them aware about today's climate change issues.
Hope they will continue to use such alternative source of energy not only because they are being provided money bur also as conscious citizen
Posted 26-12-2014 23:15
Climate change is burning issue and women and climate change in case of Nepal is issue to be discovered and explore as well as aware people about it. Indeed a good initiative Bhawana!!
Posted 26-12-2014 21:54
You did a great work, Bhawana. I feel so proud of you :)
Women residing in that area are the people got hit hardest by the climate change.
So, it's really important for them to understand what's going on with the environment around them and what they can do to improve their situation. Thumbs up!!
Posted 26-12-2014 13:38
Great Work Bhawana....Community awareness is an effective activity to disseminate information especially in rural areas.. Thank you for sharing and Congratulation on your work and findings.
Posted 26-12-2014 13:31
Congrats Bhawana.
This is a great initiative to talk to rural people about climate change and the impact to them.
I am sure that this seed will not be lost.
Posted 26-12-2014 00:16
Great Job Bhawana :) I appreciate your effort to raise awareness at ground level and the targeted participants were female who are the most vulnerable population and the one who can bring sustainable change. Many people in our country are not familiar about the climate change and its impact, although they are facing the consequences in their everyday life. We must take the responsibility t o spread the awareness to every corner. More over you also gave ideas about alternative energy,that is appreciable effort. I am sure they are awake and awake to take concrete actions regarding climate change adaptation
Posted 25-12-2014 22:07