Problem overview:

     Awareness and vision: Nepal has written a vision for sustainable development in the Constitution that the protection of the environment is considered a priority and damage to it from development will be prevented.

     Framework for coordination: Nepal has 3 institutions looking over environment, namely; Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, the National Development Council (NDC), and the Environment Protection Council. The Prime Minister will lead these 3 bodies and ensure that there is efficient coordination among them.

Background:

      Chaired from the top, with representation from all levels of society, plans are harmonized from the start

      Newer constitutions recognize the need for sustainable development and set the stage for meaningful government action. Not all countries in the region with new constitutions have taken up the environmental challenge, but Nepal has set up an efficient means for planning and coordination.

      The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal (1990) recognizes the importance of sustainable development. Article 26(4) states: "The State shall give priority to the protection of the environment and also to the prevention of its further damage due to physical development activities.and the State shall also make arrangements for the special protection of the rare wildlife, the forests and the vegetation."

      The Government set up a Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Protection consisting of 22 members of the House of Representatives representing different political parties and a maximum of 11 ex-officio members that include the Prime Minister and concerned ministers. This committee oversees the actions of the government related to conservation of the countrys natural resources and environmental protection.

      In the context of environment or any other sector, the highest policy level body is the National Development Council (NDC). It is chaired by the Prime Minister and consists of all cabinet rank ministers, members of the National Planning Commission, Chairs of all the Parliamentary Committees, Chairs of two District Development Committees from each of the five development regions of the country, the leader of the main opposition party, Chairs of all the national level political parties and a few nominated persons from different walks of life. Its mandate includes guidance to major policy issues and preparation of development plans.

      The Environment Protection Council has prime responsibility for environmental issues. The Prime Minister is the chair and its members include concerned ministers, high-level civil servants, NGO representatives, the private sector representatives, and individual professionals. Its function is to provide guidance regarding the formulation of policies, preparation of working procedures and implementation of policies. The Minister for Population and Environment serves as Vice-Chair. The Secretary for the Ministry for Population and Environment is the secretary of the EPC.

      The National Planning Commission formulates policies for overall national and sectoral development, prepares periodic plans and scrutinizes and approves annual programmes. This also, is headed by the Prime Minister.

      The Prime Ministers leadership of the three major development and environment bodies assures effective coordination and helps to mainstream environmental issues into policy formulation and the decision making process.