Pollution

MS-Nepal Environmental objectives:

• Strengthening of Natural Resource Base
• Reduce MS-Nepal Pollution
• Dismantle The Global Ecological Dis-order

General introduction

MS Nepal has elaborated a new policy paper 1999-2004. The policy paper is a frame for the way MS-Nepal wants to work for the next 5 years. This Environment strategic paper should be seen as a detailed “filling out” the frame concerning Environmental issues.The MS-Nepal programme, as given in the policy paper, can be presented as follows:

MS-Nepal Vision

• People in Nepal are able to improve capabilities and living conditions maintaining their natural resource base.
• Nepal evolves into a democratic, plural, just and humane society.
• Improved global equity, human rights, and living conditions of the world’s poor.

MS-Nepal Mission

• Mobilising human and economic resources.
• Building Partnerships and alliances.
• Facilitating flow of information and co-operation between North and South as well as within South.

MS-Nepal Programme Goal

• To enable and empower the disadvantaged and poor to improve their living conditions.
• To promote cultural interaction and development dialogue between Nepal, Denmark and with the international community.

MS-Nepal will work for the above by working within 6 Underlying Principles

• Development by people
• Gender
• Sustainable development
• Pluralism
• EnvironmentThe needs of the disabled

Through

• Capacity building
• Advocacy

MS-Nepal Environmental objectives:

1. The Natural Resource Base. Strengthening the natural resource base for food, feed, and fuel production at local levels for the satisfaction of basic needs.

2. MS-Nepal Pollution. Reducing MS-Nepal's negative impact on the environment through reduced consumption and pollution.

3. The Global Ecological Dis-order. Lobbying for world order, which is just in relation to resources and pollution. Lobbying specifically for reduced consumption/pollution in the MS system and in Denmark generally.

MS-Nepal Environmental Policy and Strategy paper was approved by MS-Nepal Policy Advisory Board (PAB) the 4th of October 1999.

1. Strengthening the Natural Resource Base

Background

Due to the fact that approximately 80 % of the people living in Nepal depends on agriculture for their livelihood, MS Nepal has choosen “Strengthening the Natural Resource Base” as one of the three environmental issues.Subjects like erosion, decreasing agriculture productivity etc. are so closely interelinked with the management of natural resources, and in coherence with that, management of the agro ecosystem. Therefore, this issues is of major concern for satisfaction of basic needs3 for the rural population in the future.

The mean size of farms in Nepal approximates 0.8 ha. But due to very uneven distribution of land 40% of agricultural landholds own farms less than 0.4 ha in size. The primary task for these farmers must be to secure their livelihood. Security for these farmers can be developed through existing farming systems but with changes in management and design. For the small farmers the “green revolution” strategy with high yielding varieties, chemical fertilizers and pesticides for production of crops for markets is doubtfull. For fast short term economic gain it works, but the results are decreasing soil fertility, dependency of new varieties, dependency of supply of fertilizer and lower total outcome from the farm.It might be expected that in the future (after 50 years or more) still the main part of the population depends on agriculture, most probably with smaller landholdings compared to now. Most of these small farms will be subsistence farms also in the future.The primary development task is to secure and improve the well being of these small farmers in a sustainable manner.

In MS-Nepal we believe that - for the poor farmers of Nepal, who sustains on small landholdings, and Nepal as such, steps towards highly integrated farming systems are more benneficial and sustainable for the farmers and will improve the environment in Nepal in general. MS-Nepal do not encourage agriculture systems with intensive monoculture and high external input.

The idea is to maximise the biological productivity4 and reduce the external input as much as possible considering a total yield that satisfy the basic needs of the farmers. By “tuning” the agro-ecosystem to a higher biological productivity through i.e. increased soil fertility, the production from farms can be increased.We believe that Nepal can be selfsufficient in food supply if the natural resource base is strengthend.Strengthening the natural resource baseThe basic need fulfilment of present and future generations will depend primarily on the ability of the natural resource base of Nepal to produce sufficient; food, fodder, fuel, fibre and range of other products such as clay, stone and timber for houses, herbal medicine etc. And this for a growing population. That means enhancing the quality and strengths of the agro-ecosystems. Some of the key areas are improved management of soil fertility, water, seeds and other planting materials, nutrients, micro-climates etc. and improved overall designs which integrates the various elements of the agro-ecosystems in Nepal at the farm, local and national levels. The present trend of soil degradation, loss of varieties, use of dangerous chemicals, reduction in tree cover etc. must be reversed.

In order to do the above, and reach small farmers needs, the following is needed:

• The necessary planting materials (most of which is available in Nepal).

People with :

• Knowledge of ecosystems and ability to analyse local agro-ecosystems
• Ability to apply this knowledge to local agro-ecosystems
• Knowledge of a range of species, technologies and systems relevant for Nepal
• Skills in those techniques and ability to demonstrate them
• Ability to develop/adapt technologies/systems to local conditions in co-operation with small farmers.
   
• Demonstrations for farmers to see techniques, which will produce more on the same (small) piece of land than presently used techniques.
• Support for farmer-to-farmer extension of techniques, which have proven valuable to (small) farmers in Nepal - e.g. transport and training materials.
• Legislation to ban dangerous pesticides (e.g. the dirty dozen), to save seeds, to stop entry of GMOs etc.

MS-Nepal will seek to promote the above activities through:

• Discussions at Annual Partnership Reviews. Care must be taken that the partner doesn't see the inclusion of 'the latest MS ideas' as a precondition for a continued partnership.
• Expand activities with partners, which already are working along the above lines.
• In the long term shifting towards partners, which think along similar lines as MS-Nepal on environmental issues.
• Support non-partnership activities such as publications, workshops, lobbying etc.

2. MS-Nepal Pollution

BackgroundMS-Nepal's main destructive effect on Nature is its large CO2 emissions from transport - car and aeroplane. It is now internationally accepted that an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere leads to climate changes in the form of increasing instability and increase in temperature. Global warming has incalculable consequences for a large part of the earth’s population. The problems are particular acute in developing countries due to the fact that an unstable climate will hit developing countries particularly hard.The emission from the worlds poor approximates 0.1 ton/person/year. For Danes the emission amounts 12 ton/person/year.Besides the CO2 emission, MS-Nepal consumes a lot of other things and therefore pollutes due to this consumption. 25 % of the world’s population most of whom live in the rich countries are responsible for 80 % of the global resource consumption. The industrialised countries are not only the biggest consumers but also the biggest polluters.Total global resource consumption must be reduced out of consideration but this must occur in a way that industrialised countries reduces their resource consumption to make possible an increase in the developing countries.To act as a conscious consumer and to promote an equal share of the world’s resources MS-Nepal intends to reduce its CO2 emission and other consumptions/pollutions.Reduction in CO2 emissionUsing the principle of Equal Environmental Space for all people in the world and the calculations made by IPCC (International Panel on Climate Changes) & NOAH it is recommended to make a 55 % CO2 emission reduction in Denmark by 2010.

According to these recommendations MS internationally states a 30 % reduction in the CO2 emission by 2005 and 50 % reduction by 2010.

The MS-Nepal Policy paper (1999-2004) has chosen to reduce their CO2 emission with 25 % by 2004 compared to 1999 emissions. In 1999 the total CO2 emission from MS Nepal was 132,5 tons not included all international flights. 25 % reduction by 2004 gives an average reduction for MS-Nepal of approximately 6,6 tonnes CO2 per year.

For this to happen we suggest the following:

A CO2 budget must be made (starting from year 2000) which allocates emissions to various activities in MS. The issue of international flights between Nepal and DK is clarified with MS-Copenhagen.

MS will establish systems for ensuring that the programme stays within its CO2 budget.

A booklet giving the information needed for the calculation of CO2 emissions from various activities - professional as well as private.

MS conducts workshops for employees at the CO, for DWs and for partners on 'Environmental Space and MS-Nepal'. These will discuss both the historical, ethical, developmental and practical aspects.

MS-Nepal launches a competition on '1000 Ways of Cutting CO2 emissions in MS-Nepal'. Prices are given for the best proposals.

Other Consumption/Pollution.An assessment of the annual flow of commodities through MS-Nepal Country office will have to be made. After assessment priorities and targets for reduction have to be elaborated. It has to be decided whether CO shall assess all commodities or just select the most obvious of these. Items could be photocopy/laser printer toner, paper, water etc.

In connection with transport the emission of carbon particles from diesel engines has to be evaluated. The emission of carbon particles is higher from diesel engines than from petrol engines but the diesel engine is more efficient in utilising the diesel and due to this, the CO2 emission/km is lower.

When MS purchase new office machinery, energy efficiency and the degree of recyclability should be taken into consideration.

3. The Global Ecological Dis-order.Background

In coherence with Globalisation, lobbying for world order which is just in relation to resources and pollution is urgently needed for the South (and the North). As the world trade becomes more liberal, it will lead to further environmental degradation. Export of pollution from the North to the South, patenting on life, high consumption in the North, increased global financial speculation are subjects that threats the environment especially in the South.

Besides, MS should lobby for reduced consumption in Denmark as an example for other countries in the North but also as a result of the fact, that Denmark is one of the most consuming countries in the world.

Reducing the Global Dis-order

MS-Nepal wants to raise the following environmental issues, which are global/international in nature. These global environmental issues are chosen to raise awareness, create discussions and action among people both in south and north.

Consumers in the North should reduce their consumption/pollution to levels within their environmental space.

The Danes should reduce their consumption/pollution to levels within their environmental space. Danes should be pioneers in this field and a good example for other countries (cf. Danes and 1% of BNP in Development Aid).

Consumers in the North are responsible for the pollution which results from the production of the products consumed- also if the production takes place outside their own country e.g. in a country in the South. The environmental space they take up should be calculated accordingly. Lobbying should be targeted at 1. Denmark, 2. Scandinavia, 3. Europe, 4. The rest of the North.

All trade in 'The Dirty Dozen' must stop.

Patenting of life should be banned. The main concern is the appropriation of varieties developed over long time in the South e.g. Neem, Basmati and Jasmine rice etc. We regard the policies of Monsanto as direct threat to farmers in the South.

International standards on pollution control and working environment.

Regulation of world trade and financial speculation/investment.

Pollution should not be regulated at the outlet but at the source.

MS-Nepal will publish materials on the above topics for partners and DWs to read. We encourage MS-Denmark to promote the ideas nationally and internationally.