KATHMANDU, MAY 13
As the nation prepares to welcome global leaders, thinkers, and changemakers to the international Sagarmatha Sambaad later this week, Nepal's children and youth have taken a bold step forward in asserting their voices on one of the most critical challenges of our time-the climate crisis. The Children and Youth Declaration, developed during the Balbalikaa tatha Yuwa (BaYu) Sambaad, was formally submitted to the Sagarmatha Sambaad Secretariat at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers today.
The BaYu Sambaad was jointly organized in April by the Government of Nepal and the United Nations Nepal, including UNICEF, FAO and UNDP, in collaboration with a consortium of youth networks – Nepalese Youth for Climate Action, Mountain Youth Hub, World Food Forum, Global Youth Biodiversity Network and Clean Energy Nepal. The event brought together over 100 children and young people from all across Nepal in a children- and youth-led national dialogue on climate action with government, civil society, development partners, private sectors, media and climate experts ahead of the Sagarmatha Sambaad, international climate dialogue focusing on climate change, mountains and the future of humanity.
A key outcome of the BaYu Sambaad is a declaration developed by the participating children and youth, outlining their demands, commitments and proposed actions for a more climate change-resilient Nepal and world. The declaration is a clarion call for urgent, inclusive as well as child- and youth-responsive climate action. It urges the Government of Nepal, development partners and the global community to recognize children and youth not just as beneficiaries, but as legitimate climate actors and rights-holders.
"The climate crisis is a child rights crisis-disproportionately impacting their health, nutrition, education and well-being-and listening to the voices of the 'future of humanity' is critical to designing and implementing meaningful and lasting solutions to address the adverse effects of climate change on children and youth," said Alice Akunga, UNICEF Representative to Nepal.
The declaration outlines eight priority actions, including:
- Generating robust evidence on the impact of climate change on children and young people
- Recognizing children and young people as active agents of change, not just subset of inclusivity
- Investment in inclusive capacity-building and climate education
- Institutionalizing children and youth participation in decision-making
- Ensuring fair and direct access to climate finance for child- and youth-focused initiatives, supporting their leadership and engagement
- Effective implementation of child- and youth-led climate programmes in Nepal's key climate and development plans, including National Adaptation Plan (2021-2050), upcoming Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC3.0) and Nepal's 16th Periodic Plan
- Promoting and scaling up child- and youth-led innovations and climate action
- And, a clear demand to place children and youth at the center of the Sagarmatha Sambaad.
This submission comes at a pivotal moment as Sagarmatha Sambaad positions Nepal on the global climate diplomacy map. The Children and Youth Declaration reflects not only the aspirations from BaYu Sambaad but also insights from regional dialogues like Himali Sambaad and Thame Sambaad, ensuring a truly inclusive and representative youth voice.
"As the world gathers to deliberate on humanity's shared future, the children and young people of Nepal urge all stakeholders-government, civil society, UN agencies, private sector and international delegates-to listen, engage and act on their message," said Akunga. "UNICEF stands firmly with them, amplifying their voices and supporting their leadership in shaping a more just and sustainable future."
