New York- The Government of Nepal is committed to address the problems related to water, food and energy security in an integrated manner.

Remarks by the Rt. Hon. Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Prime Minister and the head of the Nepalese delegation to the Sixty-sixth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, at the Roundtable 5 of the United Nations Private Sector Forum 2011 on the theme, “Sustainable Energy for All: Water, Food and Energy Security” (New York, 20 September 2011).

Mr. Chairman,

Nepal attaches high importance to today’s roundtable discussion on “Water, Food and Energy Security.” I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for taking the initiative “sustainable energy for all” and making it a priority agenda.

Water, food and energy are basic requirements for human life, progress and prosperity, and they are all interrelated. The quality of active and healthy life depends on clean water, access to sufficient, safe and nutrient food, and access to modern energy services. However, lack of access to energy poverty and hunger remain as major challenges in countries like Nepal.

Agriculture is the foundation of economy in our country because of the dependence of so many people on it. The challenges of technical knowhow and productive capacity, lack of modern equipment, dependency on subsistence agriculture and lack of alternative economic opportunities, energy poverty have negatively affected our efforts towards attaining our overall development goals including the Millennium Development Goals. Moreover, the adverse effects of climate change that have appeared in the forms of melting of Himalayan glaciers, landslides and siltation of lakes and reservoirs, droughts, delayed monsoons, and flash floods, have caused significant decline in crop yields and aggravated the food situation. These have further compounded our vulnerabilities. Many people still have to rely on unclean water sources for drinking, cooking and bathing and other domestic activities and thus face water-borne diseases. The situation is more severe in the rural areas, and especially among poor and backward communities. Aware of these constraints and challenges, the government has taken several policy initiatives and made interventions, while working together with the local communities to bring about a change in their situation. As such, Nepal is on track to achieve a number of its MDG targets despite these structural constraints.

The Government of Nepal is committed to address the problems related to water, food and energy security in an integrated manner. The Interim constitution of Nepal states ‘food sovereignty’ as the fundamental right of the people. The Government has given a high priority to the promotion and development of renewable and alternative sources of energy in Nepal. We are launching ‘Energy Crisis Mitigation Campaign’ to mitigate energy crisis in the country. Likewise, we have accorded priority to encourage private sector investment and to further strengthen necessary legal framework in order to attract foreign investment.

The present situation of water, food and energy insecurity is largely the consequence of low investment, both domestic and international in an integrated manner. We are committed to pursuing that with a vision and plan of action. We need both financial and technical assistance in the area of water resource management, agricultural development and energy generation. Nepal has abundant water resources with huge hydropower potentials that can be utilized not only for Nepal but for the entire region. Similarly, the promotion and development of solar energy, bio-gas, improved water mills, bio-fuel, and improved stoves can have a positive contribution towards energy security. Micro-hydro projects, solar energy and bio gas have vastly improved the daily lives of the people in the rural areas, especially of women among them. Therefore, we call for a higher level of support and collaboration of the international community including investment from the private sector, in improving and promoting clean and easy access to water and sanitation, hydropower generation, agricultural production, promotion of alternative energy, exchange of scientific and technological research. The private sector can also significantly contribute by investing in irrigation facilities, infrastructure buildings, seeds and fertilizers, development of agricultural, energy and other related tools, scientific technology, and research and development.

On our part, we commit ourselves to improve the productivity of our agricultural sector, accelerate our efforts to attain water, food and energy security and fight against hunger and poverty. At the same time, we call for an enhanced level of commitment and support, especially through sustained investment from the private sector in a spirit of genuine partnership.

I believe that the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) to be held next year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil will provide an opportunity to find the ways to ensure the security of water, food, energy and to address the issues relating to climate change, sustainable development and eradication of poverty and hunger in a holistic manner. I hope there will be a close collaboration between the Governments and private sectors to attain our common goal of sustainable development for all.

I thank you all for your kind attention.

Thank you.

Dr. Baburam Bhattarai
Prime Minister of Nepal

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