Kanchapur: A youth conclave in Shuklaphanta Municipality of Kanchanpur has underscored the urgency of practical actions to cope with the impact of climate change and conserve the environment.
Running down of the Chure region, heat wave on rise and increasing plastic pollution have caused serious environmental threats to Kanchanpur people, the conference concluded and pledged youth activism in a bid to mitigate climate change impacts.
The event organized on the occasion of World Environment Day was extended coordination by the local level and managed by Needs Nepal. The youths also said planting trees should be advanced as a campaign for ecological balance. Lands should not be left barren.
Mayor Rana Bahadur Mahara said environmental conservation is a shared responsibility. “Government efforts are insufficient, so all sides, especially the youths’ roles count much,” he said, adding that positive thought, social leadership and volunteering could make the campaign of environmental conservation a grassroots movement.
According to him, the pattern of rainfall has changed; temperature is making/breaking records; and the Chure region is getting depleted, thereby causing a crisis to the entire livelihood in the region. Conservation of natural resources and adoption of environment-friendly lifestyle can be helpful to minimize risks, according to him.
The water, agriculture and biodiversity are under severe stress owing to environmental degradation.
Similarly, Chief Administrative Officer Khemraj Bista shed light on the relevance of World Environment Day, environmental challenges surfaced at the local level and the role of youths in mitigating environmental problems. Environmental imbalances are causing negative impacts on human health, he said, adding that healthy lifestyles, yoga, mental health and relationships with nature could be some measures to be adjusted to a changing environment.
District Court Judge in Kanchanpur, Rajendra Bhandari, expressed views on youth participation, leadership development and the challenges of youth exodus. The time has come to create opportunities for youths in the areas of local development, environmental conservation and social transformation, he suggested.
Keshab Raj Pant, an untiring advocate of environmental conservation in the region, made a presentation on climate change impact on ecosystems, conservation of biodiversity and adaptation measures that can be forwarded by the local level. In his view, conservation of forests, water resources and wildlife should be focused on solving the climate crisis.
Similarly, environment conservation activist Saraswati Puri Bam said plastic pollution had emerged as a major challenge to the environment, so the active role of youths could be helpful in reducing its use in addition to the management of waste and community-level sanitation drives.
Youth activists Durga Baduwal and Bishnu Datt Awasthi facilitated the conclave on a range of issues such as youth leadership, participation and social responsibility. The youths in attendance dwelt on multifarious issues of environmental protection, sanitation, mitigation of climate change impacts and the campaigns the community could launch.
The conference also issued a commitment paper on the protection of the environment and natural resources, focusing on sustainable use and will encourage people to adopt environmentally friendly alternatives. They are for beating single-use plastic items. The sanitation drive would also be expanded at households, schools, workplaces and community levels so that a clean and hygienic atmosphere could be created. Classification of waste at source was another major point in the paper.
Dissemination of information and awareness materials to the community is another in the list for the campaign. Environmental balance by promoting coexistence of humans and wildlife, and building collaboration with local governments, schools, community organizations and related stakeholders is also stressed by the youths.
The youths are for taking up social responsibility and creating a clean and green future. The conference was attended by 70 youths from all 12 wards of the municipality, in addition to people’s representatives, environmentalists and media persons. Even an 11-member ‘Climate Resilient Youth Forum’ ad hoc committee has been formed under the coordination of Santosh Dhami to augment climate actions.
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