PODS by PEI

Explore Nepal's push for electric cooking solutions as a way to reach net zero emissions by 2045. Learn about the challenges and opportunities in the electricity sector, demand side management strategies, and the positive impact of electric cooking on climate change. Discover the importance of public-private collaboration in promoting and implementing electric cooking solutions.

Energy expert Ben Cahill discusses the changing global energy landscape, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, climate change, and the transition to renewable energy sources. They explore challenges in the oil and gas industry, the geopolitics of energy, impacts on developing countries, and the role of hydrogen in decarbonization. The podcast highlights the need for energy diversification and investments in greener energy.

#Ep.041 In this enlightening episode of the PEI podcast, we delve into the intricate dynamics of international labor migration. Join our host, Anuj Tiwari, as he engages in a riveting conversation with Rebekah Smith, a renowned expert in labor mobility and public policy. They unpack the multi-layered economic and social impacts of labor migration on the host nations, migrant workers, and countries of origin. Explore how labor migration policies necessitate careful balancing, addressing the often conflicting consequences for all involved parties. We delve into the tough decisions that inform the design of labor immigration policies, highlighting the integral role of ethics and values beyond mere facts. Drawing on Rebekah's extensive experience and scholarly publications, we discuss effective migration systems, the global effects of migration on stakeholders, and optimal responses to these challenges. Rebekah, the executive director of Labor Mobility Partnerships, boasts a wealth of experience in addressing market and regulatory challenges obstructing safe and effective labor mobility. Your support on Patreon allows us to bring these crucial global issues to the forefront. Click here to support us!

Ep#040 नागरिकता विधेयक (पहिलो संशोधन) २०७२ ले वैवाहिक अंगिकृत महिला र जन्मको आधारमा नागरिकता लिएका सन्तानहरुलाई वंशजको आधारमा नागरिकता दिने प्रावधान पारित गरेको छ । तर एकसमुहमा रहेका कतिपय राजनीतिक दलहरुले नेपालमा वैवाहिक अंगिकृत महिलालाई सात वर्ष पछि नागरिकता दिनुपर्ने र यसअघि वितरण भएको जन्मसिद्ध नागरिकता छानबिन नभएसम्म उनीहरूका सन्तानलाई वंशजको नागरिकता दिन नहुने तर्क गर्छन। त्यस्तै दोस्रो समुहमा रहेका राजनीतिक दल, आफ्नै नागरिकलाई अनागरिक बनाउने र लैङ्गिक असमानता प्रवर्धन गर्ने व्यवस्था हटाउन यो विधेयक सहायक रहेको तर्क गर्छन । नेपालको संसदमा केही वर्षदेखि नागरिकता विधेयकमाथि छलफल भइरहेको भए पनि हाल पारित भएका प्रावधानहरु सिफारिसमा नभएकोले राजनीतिक दलहरु ध्रुवीकृत हुदै आएका छन् । नेपालमा सांसद र आमजनताबीच यो बहसको विषय बन्दै आएको छ । पोड्स बाई पि.ई.आई.को आजको भागमा पी. ई. आई.का अविनाश कर्ण तराई–मधेश लोकतान्त्रिक पार्टीका अध्यक्ष बृषेशचन्द्र लालसंग गत चैत्र २० गते कान्तिपुर दैनिकमा प्रकाशित उहाँको लेख “नागरिकता विधेयकमा अनुचित अलमल” को सेरोफेरोमा रहेर संवाद गर्नेछन्  ! यस लेखमा अध्यक्ष लालले संविधानका शर्त पूरा गरी पारित भएको नेपाल नागरिकता (पहिलो संशोधन) विधेयक–२०७९ लाई कानुन बनिसकेको घोषणा गर्नुपर्ने र लोकतन्त्रवादी भनाउने राजनीतिक दलहरू, र समुहहरुले वर्षौंदेखि नागरिकतालाई राजनीतिक मुद्दाका रूपमा प्रयोग गर्दै सत्ता समीकरण बनाउने र नेतृत्वमा बसिरहन बिनाआधारको सिटबन्धन मात्र तिनका निमित्त पहिलो चासोको विषय रहेको भन्ने विचार र नागरिकता संग सम्बन्धित अन्तरवस्तुमा रहेर कुराकानी गर्नेछौ  । नेपाल विद्यार्थी संघबाट राजनीति शुरु गर्नु भएका बृषेशचन्द्र लाल बिक्रम सम्बत् २०२९ सालमा ने.वि.संघ, धनुषा जिल्ला अध्यक्ष हुदै लोकतान्त्रिक आन्दोलनको क्रममा अग्रणी भूमिका निर्वाह गर्दा पटक-पटकको गिरफदारिमा ८ वर्ष जति कारावास जीवन विताउनु भएको छ ! बि.पि. कोइराला संग नजिक भएर काम गरेका उनी २०४४ सालमा नेपाली कांग्रेस समर्थित उम्मेदवारको रुपमा स्थानीय निर्वाचनबाट उप-प्रधानपंचमा निर्वाचित भएर पछि ने.का.को रणनीति अनुसार सार्वजनिक रुपमा पंचायती व्यवस्थाको बिरोध गर्दा खारेजीमा परेका लाल पुनः २०४८ सालमा जनकपुरधाम नगरपालिकामा स्वतन्त्र उम्मेदवारको रुपमा नगर प्रमुखमा निर्वाचित हुनु भएको थियो ! लोकतान्त्रिक आन्दोलन, मधेश आन्दोलन संगै विभिन्न अधिकारमुखी आन्दोलनमा अग्रणी भूमिका निर्वाह गर्दै आउनु भएका लाल २०६३ सालमा स्थापित तराई मधेश लोकतान्त्रिक पार्टीका संस्थापक सदस्य हुनुहुन्छ ! राष्ट्रिय सभाका पुर्व सदस्य र विधायण समितिका पुर्व सदस्य समेत रहनु भएका उहाँ त्रि.वि.वि.बाट अर्थशास्त्रमा स्नातकोत्तर गर्नुका साथसाथै इजरायलबाट विकास, सहकारी र श्रम विषयमा डिप्लोमा गर्नु भएको छ ! कानूनको अध्ययनमा रुची राख्ने लाल समसामयिक विषयमा पनि कलम चलाउने लालका विभिन्न लिखतहरु पनि प्रकाशित छन् ! हाल उहाँ पुनर्स्थापित तराई मधेश लोकतान्त्रिक पार्टीको केन्द्रिय अध्यक्ष हुनुहुन्छ ! Patreon मा हामीलाई समर्थन गर्न यहाँ क्लिक (https://patreon.com/podsbypei) गर्नुहोस् !!

The podcast discusses the recently concluded Power Summit 2023 in Nepal, focusing on broadening green energy markets, increasing electricity demand, attracting foreign investment, and addressing challenges in Nepal's energy discourse.

#Ep.038 More than 15 years have passed since the end of the armed conflict between the Maoists and the Government of Nepal with the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Accord. While the country has done a remarkable job not recoiling back into the violent conflict with which it grappled for a decade, the years after have been slow and painful for the thousands of survivors who keep waiting for a justice that just won't show.  In this episode, PEI colleague Khushi sits with Jaya Luintel to highlight the harrowing stories of thousands of Nepali women who survived war atrocities and are still struggling to find justice and reparation for their losses. Recounting women's experiences during and after the conflict, the two explore gendered aspects of war and how the Nepali State has failed to cater to its female survivors.   Jaya is the co-founder of The Story Kitchen, where she works with women nationwide to empower them to share their stories by providing them with the skills and platforms to vocalize their issues and experiences to seek social justice. She has over two decades of working as a journalist and a development practitioner. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Applied Conflict Transformation Studies. The episode also features testimonies from some survivors themselves, which were retrieved from the archives of The Story Kicthen’s radio broadcasts.

#Ep.037 Adopted in 2015, the Paris Agreement was hailed as a leap for humankind to achieve climate change mitigation, adaptation, and establish effective mechanisms for climate finance. The agreement set the long-term temperature goal to keep the rise in mean global temperature to well below 2 °C (3.6 °F) above pre-industrial levels, and preferably limit the increase to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F), recognizing that this would substantially reduce the effects of climate change. Building on this, the final synthesis report of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, published recently in March 2023, unequivocally states that climate change has been caused by greenhouse gases emitted through anthropogenic activities. Climate change has created substantial damages and increasingly so, irreversible changes to the planet. The recently published report is unequivocal about climate change arising from anthropogenic carbon emissions, and that it is indeed high time that the world starts to cut down its emissions, reduce the dependency on fossil fuels, and adopt carbon-neutral technologies for energy generation, industry, and transport. PEI’s Saurab and Bimal discuss the recently published synthesis report of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, some of the key takeaways from the report and climate change through a Nepali lens. Bimal is a climate resilience and natural resource management expert with more than 23 years of experience supporting national and local climate change adaptation priorities in Nepal. He has experience supporting the Government of Nepal (GON) in risk reduction, natural systems sustainability, and biodiversity conservation, and has made significant contributions to the development of Nepal’s Climate Change Policy and institutional reform. He holds a PhD in Climate Change from Flinders University, Australia. Click here to support us on Patreon!!

#Ep.036 Kathmandu has evolved drastically in the past few decades. A bird’s eye view of the valley would find aggregates of concrete where the lush canopy once domineered. While Kathmandu’s urbanization gave way to socio-economic development, its native wildlife has been increasingly marginalized. This has been reflected, among other things, in the sharp decline of migratory birds visiting Kathmandu in the past 20 years.  In this episode, PEI’s Dheeraj and Hem Sagar Baral talk about the Beauty of Birds and Bird Watching. They begin with exploring the art of bird watching and the immense opportunity for it in Nepal. The two then fondly recount their experience as avid bird watchers and observe the changes they have observed especially the population decline. They discuss urbanization and climate change as main deterrents and consider what can be done to mitigate their effects to restore avian life and diversity. Hem Sagar Baral is an ornithologist with a Ph.D. in Bird Ecology from the University of Amsterdam and has been involved in wildlife conservation for nearly three decades popularizing public engagement and appreciation. He is the Country Director of the Zoological Society of London, Nepal where he leads multiple wildlife conservation projects, charities, and research.  Click here https://patreon.com/podsbypei to support us on Patreon!!

#Ep.035 नदी किनार खोतल्ने र ढुङ्गा, गिट्टी, बालुवा झिकेर बिक्री गर्ने कारोबार पछिल्ला दुई दशकमा देशैभरि उल्लेख्य बढेको छ। कारोबार, व्यापार भन्दा पनि प्राकृतिक श्रोतको दोहन भैरहेको र त्यसमा पनि यसबाट सिर्जित लाभ सिमित व्यक्ति/समूहहरुको पोल्टोमा मात्र जाने गरेको छ | २०७२ सालमा संबिधान निर्माण भइ संघिय गणतान्त्रिक लोकतन्त्रको नयाँ व्यवस्थामा देश गैसकेपछि, यो र अन्य धेरै अवस्थामा सुधार आउने आशा सम्पूर्ण जनताले गरेका थिए | देशको शासन प्रणालीको पुनर्संरचना भए संगै, स्थानीय सरकार सञ्चालन ऐन, २०७४ ले नदीजन्य पदार्थ उत्खनन तथा सङ्कलनको ठेक्का लगाउने अधिकार स्थानीय तहलाई दियो, तर नदिजन्य पदार्थको दोहन अहिले पछिल्ला वर्षहरुमा झन् बढेको छ | नदिजन्य पदार्थ संगै अरु पनि कुन- कुन प्राकृतिक श्रोतको दोहन भैरहेको छ, किन भैरहेको छ र यसबाट क-कसले लाभ लिईरहेका छन् र क-कसलाई, कस्तो हानी भैरहेको छ त? यिनै बिषयहरुलाई समेट्दै, आजको भागमा पी. ई. आई. का जनक पोख्रेल, पत्रकार रमेश कुमार न्यौपानेसँग उनको गत भदौ १ गते, हिमाल खबर पत्रिकामा प्रकाशित खोजमुलक लेख “प्रकृति दोहनको धन्दा” को अन्तरङ्गमा रहेर संवादमा बस्दैछन् | न्यौपानेले प्राकृतिक श्रोतको अप्राकृतिक दोहन भैरहेको कुरालाई उठान गर्दै, यसको पछाडी राजनैतिक र ब्यवसाहिक समुहहरुको गठजोड रहेको कुरालाई २०७४ र २०७९को स्थानीय चुनाबमा निर्वाचित जनप्रतिनिधिमा क्रसर उद्योग ब्यवसाहीहरुको बढ्दो संख्यासंगै जोडेर बिस्लेशन गर्नुभएको छ | रमेश कुमार, पेशाले एउटा पत्रकार हुनुहुन्छ। उहाँले त्रिभुवन विश्वविद्यालयबाट पत्रकारिता तथा आमसञ्चार र चीनको शाङहाईस्थित थोङ्ची विश्वविद्यालयबाट दिगो विकास विषयमा स्नातकोत्तर गर्नुभएको छ| पत्रकारिता पेशामा उहाँ पछिल्लो १४ वर्षदेखि संलग्न हुनुहुन्छ र उहाँ अहिले हिमाल खबर पत्रिकासँग आवद्ध हुनुहुन्छ। यो बीचमा उहाँले दैनिक पत्रिका, साप्ताहिक पत्रिका, म्यागेजिन र अनलाइनमा पनि काम गरिसक्नु भएको छ। उहाँले खासगरी, अर्थ–राजनीति, विकास र वातावरणका विषयमा लेख्ने गर्नुभएको छ। प्राकृतिक स्रोतको दोहन, वित्तीय कर्जामा विद्यमान अपचलन, सरकारी अनुदानको दुरुपयोग, जमीनको अर्थराजनीति, धितोपत्र बजारमा सुशासनको अभाव, सार्वजनिक स्रोतको अनियमितता लगायतका विषयमा उहाँले लेख्दै आउनुभएको छ। उहाँको खास रुचि गहन र अनुसन्धानात्मक रिर्पोटिङमा रहेको छ र उहाँका केहि रिर्पोटिङले पत्रकारिता क्षेत्रका राष्ट्रिय अवार्ड समेत जितेका छन् । पी. ई. आई ले प्रकृति दोहन बारे नै, सन् २०१९ मा महाकाली र टिस्टा नदीहरुको उदाहरण सहित दक्षिण एसियामा बालुवा उत्खननको अभ्यासबारे एउटा रिपोर्ट तयार गरेको थियो, त्यसलाई पढ्न यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुहोस् | Patreon मा हामीलाई समर्थन गर्न यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुहोस् !!

As economies worldwide look to bounce back from the unforeseen setback created by COVID-19 pandemic, most of them are faced with rising inflationary pressures caused by the Ukraine-Russia war. Nepal also seems to have hit a stumbling block in the recovery phase after 2 years of decent growth after facing a negative growth rate in NFY 19/20 for the first time in over 40 years. High inflation, liquidity crunch, plummeting foreign exchange reserves, and low internal revenue all seem to be troubling the economy simultaneously. Hence, the recently elected government has its hands full. In this episode, PEI’s Aslesh and Siddhartha discuss the impact of COVID-19 on Nepal’s economy and its post-pandemic recovery. They explore the macro issues faced by the Nepali economy during the unprecedented days of the pandemic and the external shocks that followed. They also review possible fiscal and monetary policies to manage the current economic woes and structural limitations. Siddartha is an economist with research interests in the areas of Macroeconomics, agriculture economics, financial inclusion, sustainable finance, and ESG. He has experience working in the financial services industry and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Peking University. A seasoned research professional, he has led several projects pertaining to the academic and development sector. Click here https://patreon.com/podsbypei to support us on Patreon!!