Justice-related impacts and social differentiation dynamics in Nepal’s REDD+ projects

Policies and projects aimed at Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, and the sustainable management of forests and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+), have been regarded as an opportunity to improve forest governance while supporting rural livelihoods. However, now that REDD+ policies are being increasingly implemented, a number of justice-related challenges have emerged, including how social heterogeneity should be approached to avoid deepening the unequal access to land, resources and livelihood opportunities or even violating human rights in rural contexts. Applying an environmental justice lens, this article analyses the experience of three local communities in Nepal participating in REDD+ pilot projects, focusing on how indigenous peoples, women and Dalits have participated in and been affected by such initiatives. Our research shows that the studied REDD+ pilot activities in Nepal have been, to some extent, able to recognise, empower and benefit certain social groups, indigenous women in particular, whilst Dalits (particularly Dalit women) had a different experience. REDD+ projects have had limited impact in addressing more entrenched processes of political discrimination, male dominance in decision-making, and uneven participation driven by spatial considerations or specific social targeting approaches. While the projects examined here have been partially just, and rather sensitive to existing patterns of social differentiation, the complexity of social differentiation still makes it difficult to operationalise environmental justice in REDD+ implementation. Hence, we conclude that deficits in distributive, recognition and procedural justice cannot be resolved without first addressing wider issues of social injustices throughout Nepal, historically inherited along the dimensions of class, caste, ethnicity, gender, and spatiality

Representation and participation in formulating Nepal’s REDD+ approach

REDD+ is an international policy aimed at incentivizing forest conservation and management and improving forest governance. In this article, we interrogate how newly articulated REDD+ governance processes established to guide the formulation of Nepal’s REDD+ approach address issues of participation for different social groups. Specifically, we analyse available forums of participation for different social groups, as well as the nature of their representation and degree of participation during the country’s REDD+ preparedness phase. We find that spaces for participation and decision-making in REDD+ have been to date defined and dominated by government actors and influential civil society groups, whereas the influence of other actors, particularly marginalized groups such as Dalits and women’s organizations, have remained limited. REDD+ has also resulted in a reduction of influence for some hitherto powerful actors (e.g. community forestry activists) and constrained their critical voice. These governance weaknesses related to misrepresentation and uneven power relations in Nepal cast doubt on the extent to which procedural justice has been promoted through REDD+ and imply that implementation may, as a consequence, lack the required social legitimacy and support. We discuss possible ways to address these shortcomings, such as granting greater prominence to neglected civil society forums within the REDD+ process, allowing for an increase in their influence on policy design, enhancing capacity and leadership of marginalized groups and institutionalizing participation through continued forest governance reform. Key policy insights: -Participation is a critical asset in public policy design. -Ensuring wide and meaningful participation can enhance policy legitimacy and thus its endorsement and potential effective implementation. - Fostering inclusive processes through dedicated forums such as multi-stakeholder groups can help overcome power dynamics. -While REDD+ is open to participation by different actors through a variety of formal means, many countries lack a clear framework for participation in national policy processes. -Nepal’s experience with representation and participation of non-state actors in its REDD+ preparedness programme provides useful insights for similar social and policy contexts

Applying a Climate Justice Framework to Understand Inequities in Urban Water Governance Amid Climate Change Challenges in Nepal

This chapter provides empirical case studies of two Himalayan towns of Nepal – Dhulikhel and Diktel, focusing on equity and justice in (drinking) water governance, which impacted water security. We investigate the differential impacts of climate change on different local social groups and their ongoing responses to the impacts taking the case of water governance and water security. The findings of the study clearly revealed that climate change and its associated impacts on the lives of people have further exacerbated the existing inequalities among the social groups – the access to drinking water for the marginalized social groups further declined because of drying of water sources and other disasters affecting the availability of water. Based on these empirical facts, this chapter highlights the need to develop an interdisciplinary approach to advance a research and policy agenda on climate justice and disaster risk management (with valuable insights from elsewhere). We conclude that a climate justice framework is needed in the context of Nepal that considers distributional, capabilities, procedural, and recognition issues and aspects of vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive capacity. Based on the findings of the study, we also complicate the current debate around climate justice in Nepal, and how can they be applied in research and development interventions related to climate change (for adaptation) and disasters. This would help to understand which dimension of climate justice gets priority and more traction in Nepal than others amid the dynamics of social differences

Multi-scale politics in climate change: the mismatch of authority and capability in federalizing Nepal

Nepal's transition to federalism in 2015 involved a significant redistribution of authority across three levels of government, with a greater level of autonomy granted to provincial and local levels. We examine multi-scale climate policy and politics in Nepal, focusing on three elements that are important for policy development and implementation: (a) the authority to make decisions; (b) the knowledge and expertise to develop and implement policies; and (c) the ability to access and mobilize resources, primarily external funding, by government bodies at different levels. Our findings show that the newly decentralized local governments are constrained in their ability to develop and implement climate change-related policies and practical responses by a mismatch between the authority granted to them and existing institutional capabilities. These governmental bodies have limited opportunities to develop, access and mobilize knowledge of climate and development and financial resources, which are needed to put new policies into action. Based on this analysis, we argue that decentralization of governmental authority is not likely to produce effective climate policy outcomes if this mismatch remains unaddressed

Natural Resources and Social Justice Agenda in Nepal: From Local Experiences and Struggles to Policy Reform

The demand for greater community control over natural resources have been profound in recent decades in Nepal and beyond. These demands go together with calls for social justice, which remains a coveted goal in the struggles over resources and development. However, social justice remains an elusive idea in regard to what it is and how it can be achieved in societies characterized by inequalities based on caste, ethnicity, class and gender. Accordingly, it is far from clear what specific policy and legal provisions work well in particular historical, social and political contexts. This article surveys the theoretical debate of social justice generally, and the way it helps understand local peoples’ experiences and claims around natural resources and development projects. Drawing upon the literature, it highlights the pluralist framework of social justice in terms of the ideas of redistribution, recognition and participation, and employs that framework for the analysis of three diverse cases from in Nepal: a) hydropower project development in Lamjung, b) rights of fishing communities in Kailali, and c) programon reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). The analysis shows that, while Nepal’s constitution and political rhetoric acknowledges the rights and entitlements to disadvantaged groups, it has not abetted the need for local struggles for resource access and control. Broad policy announcements lack follow-through measures and tools, where more attention will be needed in order for a more socially just resourcegovernance and development.</jats:p

Water scarcity and excess: water insecurity in cities of Nepal

Abstract The world is facing the greatest and most complex twin challenges of water insecurity: scarcity and excess, with their adverse consequences on health, well-being, and developmental outcomes. Against this backdrop, we analyzed the challenges households face due to ‘too much and too little water’. The research employed a qualitative methodology in which data were collected through 40 key informant interviews, informal conversations, and observations during 2020–2021 including a relevant literature review. We note that both ‘too much and too little water’ pose risks to water insecurity. Also, water security cannot be ensured by only dealing with water inadequacy without building a resilient water system and robust institutions. We found that water scarcity has affected other components of water security such as equity, quality, and affordability. Excess water has impacted water infrastructures degrading the water quality, and risking human health and well-being. The responses to the water challenges were hindered by several constraints such as the limited capacity of the water institutions, frequent leadership changes, political influence, and emerging challenges in the federal context. We suggest timely planning and adopting site-specific innovations to address water scarcity and excess challenges, which include strengthening water infrastructures, water supply services, water institutions, and governance.</jats:p