Abstract

The Paris Agreement and the IPCC emphasize the critical role of subnational governments in advancing climate action, particularly in federal countries like Nepal. Using a Political Economy Analysis (PEA) framework, this study examines the roles, capacities, and constraints of Nepal’s provincial governments in implementing climate policies. The research combined a review of global-to-subnational climate literature and policies, in-depth interviews of 40 key stakeholders (including ministers, parliamentarians, officials, and civil society representatives), and validation through two
workshops involving 70 participants. Findings show that provincial governments are strategically positioned to design and implement context- specific subnational climate actions that support local livelihoods and resilient development.

However, their effectiveness is constrained by centralized policymaking, institutional overlaps, and limited technical and financial capacity. A prevailing techno-bureaucratic and hazard centric approach further restricts cross-sectoral and cross-boundary collaboration. Strengthening
provincial authority, capacity, resources, and intergovernmental coordination is essential for decentralized, integrated, and landscape-based climate governance.