Parliament urged to prioritise climate justice

The international non-government organisation, ActionAid has called attention of the parliament to solve the problems seen due to climate change and to take initiatives for climate justice.

A team comprising ActionAid Nepal's executive director Sujita Mathema handed over a memorandum to Speaker Devraj Ghimire on Tuesday. Through the memo, ActionAid Nepal urged the government to accept grants instead of loans while taking foreign assistance in the climate change sector.

Similarly, the team called on the parliament to play its role in making climate financing transparent and in providing support to the poor and vulnerable communities affected by the impact of climate change.

The Government of Nepal has set the target of reducing carbon emissions in a sustainable way and achieving net zero carbon emission by 2045 by preparing a long-term strategy working actively along with international initiatives in the climate change sector.

ActionAid stated that it has drawn the attention of the parliament to take initiatives to prioritisation of climate justice issues saying this topic did not get the priority. The memorandum which ActionAid submitted as part of its Climate Justice Campaign calls for timely changing policies formulated to address the climate change impact, for allocation of budget in appropriate way and also for actively monitoring the goals set by the government in this sector.

The INGO also demanded to form a parliamentary committee to take effective measures in climate finance. Receiving the memorandum, Speaker Ghimire said he is committed to address the climate change-related challenges and would make efforts for the same.

 ActionAid Nepal has been running public awareness programmes on climate justice in various places of the country through the participation of youth, women and children.

The campaign is run in 10 districts of Nepal, including Tehrathum, Siraha, Mahottari, Parsa, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Palpa, Kapilvastu, Bardiya, and Doti.

Collaborating with local organisations, ActionAid aims to maximise the campaign's impact and create a collective response to climate change by pursuing various activities and mobilisation efforts to compel communities, families, students, and activists to agitate for climate justice, it is stated. ---