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04 Apr 2022

An Alumni Gives Back to Community: Awaring KU Engineering Undergraduates of Climate Change and RETs

 

“Last October 2021, my family experienced the impact of the climate change first-hand,” recalled Avishek Malla, ICIMOD Energy Specialist. “An excessive unseasonal rain destroyed our crops. We were not the only family who suffered. It was estimated that Rs 8.26 billion-worth crop, highest ever recorded in the history, was lost due to the same extreme weather event. Thanks to secondary income sources, our family could cope with the loss and absorb the climate shock. This probably was not the case for the large majority of seventy thousand impacted families.”

“According to the climate risk index,” Avishek continued, “Nepal ranks the 10th most vulnerable country in the world. It is projected that the precipitation and temperature will increase leading to more frequent climate extreme event and shocks.”

“I am personally urged by the need to make my fellow Nepali, especially youths, aware about climate change and take concrete and meaningful actions to mitigate and adapt to it. I was fortunate to receive the Australia Awards – Nepal Climate Change Action Grant (CCAG) 2022. I use this grant to raise the awareness amongst young engineers in the renewable energy sectors, because they form the future change makers and agents of climate actions.”

The two-day programme titled Renewable Energy for Climate Actions and Building Resilience catered to 100 engineering students (17 amongst them women) focusing on climate actions, the implementation process of a renewable energy project, its common challenges and how to overcome them. The course demonstrates how Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) can enable economic growth in the local context and its broader links with community resilience.

The programme is organized by CCAG Nepal and Kathmandu University and supportedby HUC-ICIMOD , REEECH at the Godavari Knowledge Park, 3-4 April 2022.

Avishek Malla graduated from Kathmandu University in 2005. He completed MSc Renewable Energy, PG Dip. Energy and the Environment from Murdoch University, Perth, Australia in 2010.