About NYCA

Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) is a coalition of Nepali youth and youth groups formed with an aim to tackle climate change, the biggest challenge of our generation. NYCA works with universities, schools, organizations, and communities at national and international level to protect our future from the threats posed by climate change. We inspire, educate, empower and mobilize young Nepalese to create a future that is economically prosperous, environmentally sustainable, and socially justice.

Our mission is to protect Nepal from the adverse impacts of climate change through a diverse, nationwide, youth-led movement.

• Raising awareness on Climate Change related issues in local and National Level.
• Advocate for effective action for possible mitigation and adaptation measures to Climate Change.
• Push for development of clean energy in Nepal
• Educate the broader Nepali population about global warming impacts and adaptation strategies
• Push and assist the government of Nepal to develop a national Climate Action Plan that would consider national adaptation strategies as well as national emissions mitigation strategies that would reduce GHG Emissions in Nepal to net-zero.

I. Goal: Pressure large-greenhouse-gas-emitting countries to commit to an international climate treaty no later than Copenhagen (Dec 09) that would:

1. Set targets to reduce GHG emissions quickly to levels scientifically required, not politically-feasible and
2. Stabilize global carbon-dioxide levels at 350 ppm within 5- 10 years.

Reason:
Scientists are very clear that we must act now to cut global greenhouse gas emissions significantly to prevent catastrophic climate change, i.e. climate change that would not allow human civilization to survive. Jim Hansen, a top climatologist with NASA, stated at the beginning of this year that we must cut emissions such that C02 levels stabilize at 350 ppm if we are to avoid catastrophic climate change. Catastrophic climate change is expected to occur with a temperature increase of over 2C from pre-industrial levels, at present temperatures are 0.7C above pre-industrial levels.


Actions:
Young people in Nepal can and must:

1. Build partnerships with youth counterparts worldwide sharing same objective and to pressure law-makers in high-emitting countries about the urgent need to reduce emissions citing already-occurring and expected climate change impacts in Nepal. Youth must emphasize the need for a global climate treaty by Dec 09 in order to avoid catastrophic climate change.
2. Engage with international and local NGOs in Nepal and other high-emitting countries to inform them about impacts and need for quick action
3. Engage with representatives from the US, Indian, Chinese Embassies, EU embassies to demand immediate and bold reductions in emissions
4. Engage with universities, corporations and businesses, major conferences, in high-emitting countries to spread awareness about climate change impacts in Nepal.
5. Engage international and local media (TV, radio, print, new media), particularly leading up to the international climate negotiations in Poland and Copenhagen, to improve international and local understanding of climate change impacts in Nepal and need for urgent reductions.

II. Goal: Pressure large-GHG emitters to assist with necessary adaptation needs of vulnerable populations in Nepal from climate change.

Reason:
Nepal is likely to be one of the hardest-hit by climate change despite being one of the smallest contributors to climate change. Scientific and anecdotal evidence confirm that climate change is already impacting communities in Nepal through the melting Himalayas, changing monsoon patterns and changing crop yields. Therefore, a large percentage of the Nepali population needs significant assistance to adapt to the changing climate and to protect their centuries-old traditions and livelihoods from climate impacts.

Actions:

1. Work with counterparts worldwide to pressure law-makers about the urgent adaptation needs of communities in Nepal. Youths must help Nepal secure strong and necessary adaptation assistance provisions during the global climate negotiations in Poland and Copenhagen.
2. Engage with international and local NGOs, universities, corporations and businesses, in Nepal and other high-emitting countries to develop partnerships to develop and implement adaptation programs.
3. Engage with representatives from the US, Indian, Chinese Embassies, EU embassies to demand immediate adaptation assistance
4. Engage international and local media (TV, radio, print, new media), particularly leading up to key international climate negotiations to share adaptation needs.

III. Goal: Share local and indigenous knowledge about sustainable living practices

Reason:
Many Nepali communities have lived sustainably for centuries and thus possess useful knowledge of the art of sustainable living. Much of this knowledge can be shared with the “developed world” to help these countries transition to more sustainable ways of living.

Actions:

1. Develop a systematic and comprehensive understanding of local sustainable practices
2. Share knowledge with strategic partners such as colleges and universities in “developed” countries.

IV. Goal: Improve scientific understanding of global warming impacts on Nepal

Reason:
While there is some scientific understanding of the impacts of climate change in Nepal, a much deeper understanding of impacts is needed to in order to engage in effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Actions:

1. Develop research partnerships with students/faculty in universities across South Asia, in the US and elsewhere.
2. Make documentaries about impacts, need for adaptation, action(or have a TV crew follow up them around)

V. Goal: Push for development of clean and just energy in Nepal

Actions:

1. Build partnerships with governmental, non-governmental organizations as well as clean energy businesses to provide clean
2. energy to communities, schools, hospitals (solar, wind, geo-thermal, bio-gas)

VI. Goal: Educate the broader Nepali population about global warming impacts and adaptation strategies

Actions:

1. Work with curriculum authorities to integrate climate change impacts and solutions into primary, secondary and tertiary sector curriculums
2. Develop creative and informational ads for TV, radio, print and new media
3. Need to have educational campaign for adults

VII. Goal: Push and assist the government of Nepal to develop a national Climate Action Plan that would consider national adaptation strategies as well as national emissions mitigation strategies that would reduce GHG Emissions in Nepal to net-zero.

Actions:

1. Lobby members of government, Constituent Assembly, to develop a national Climate Action Plan to reduce Nepali young people need to demand a climate action plan in Nepal to show that Nepal is moving ahead in cutting emissions before the developed countries
2. Work with relevant organizations to develop necessary technical information for a Climate Action Plan.

As we are witnessing the rapid melting of glaciers in the Himalayas and changing monsoon pattern, there is an urgent need to take action on climate change. Nepal has already encountered some negative impacts of global climate change. Unchecked, it has the potential to dramatically compromise the livelihoods and well-being of millions of people in our region for many generations to come. Our challenge is thus, two-fold:

1. We need to increase awareness within Nepal about the potential impacts of climate change as well as strategies to adapt to the changes and
2. We need to work with our allies at the international-level to ensure that global GHG emissions are reduced at the rates necessary for our survival and that adequate support is provided for Nepal to adapt to climate change through our collective actions and initiatives

We hope to ensure that a future is indeed possible for us.