Youth propose innovative methods to combat the climate crisis

“Glacier melt could take human lives if we don’t have reliable data. Proper data can help minimise climate disasters and young people can help in data collection, improving early warning systems and managing information flows,” said Bibek Shrestha.

“The youth can raise awareness about climate change through volunteering and using digital technologies. With these methods, the voice of the youth can even reach the policy level,” said Seniwa Nembang.

“Glacier melt has not just affected tourism and the environment but is also affecting the health of the people. Youth can conduct research on how climate is affecting crops and livelihoods, and help provide solutions to farmers,” said Samir Karki.

“To combat the climate crisis, cross-country exchanges are very important. Youths networking and collaborating on knowledge sharing can help in battling the climate crisis,” said Puja Adhikari.

These young voices were raised during a youth-oriented discussion organised on December 8 in Pokhara, ahead of International Mountain Day that is commemorated annually across the world on December 11. The discussion programme was jointly organised by UNDP with Tribhuvan University’s Institute of Forestry in Pokhara and Nepalese Youth for Climate Action. At the event, young people discussed various solutions to the climate crisis, focusing particularly on the role of youth.

Speaking at the event, Gandaki Province Minister for Tourism, Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Mani Bhadra Sharma encouraged the youth to make use of their time to research ways to protect the mountains and its people. He assured that the provincial government would allocate a budget for research activities to combat climate change.

In the same vein, Nirmala Neupane, director of the International Mountain Museum highlighted the indigenous knowledge of people living in the mountains and how it could be mobilised to mitigate the effects of climate change. She too encouraged the youth to advocate widely on issues related to climate change.

“I am pleased to hear the youth’s enthusiasm for research and development. Cross-country sharing and learning will help countries mitigate climate risk. I would like to encourage the youth to take the lead in such research and learning activities,” said Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labé, UNDP Nepal’s Resident Representative. She also highlighted the youth’s role in promoting sustainable tourism in the mountains.

Professor Binod Prasad Heyojoo, campus chief of the Institute of Forestry, closed the event by encouraging the youth to be more innovative and work on transformative ideas to battle the climate crisis.

This pre-event was a platform to amplify the voices of the youth and start a dialogue on their thoughts towards proclaiming 2025 as the International Year for the Preservation of Glaciers, as proposed by Emomali Rahmon, president of Tajikistan, at COP26.

International Mountain Day is observed every year to create awareness regarding fragile mountain ecosystems, explore available opportunities for the sustainable development of mountain peoples, and highlight the constraints to development in the mountains.

Nepal is home to some of the tallest mountains in the world and is thus extremely vulnerable to changes in the climate, which can directly impact the lives and livelihoods of its people. It is therefore of the utmost importance to engage youths from the region in conversations regarding environmental protection as a fundamental human right for present and future generations.