Nepal has joined more than 78 countries in endorsing a global declaration aimed at placing children and young people at the centre of climate action, reaffirming its commitment to protecting future generations from the growing impacts of climate change.
The signed Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action was formally handed over at the Nepal Pavilion during the ongoing COP31 climate conference, reads a statement issued by UNICEF Nepal. The government had announced its endorsement of the declaration at the National Climate Summit on October 29.
According to UNICEF Nepal, Dr Rajendra KC, joint secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, handed over the signed document in the presence of ministry secretary Dr Rajendra Prasad Mishra and Gernot Laganda, UNICEF’s global technical director for climate and sustainability.
Speaking on the occasion, KC said climate change affects children and young people differently, with children particularly vulnerable to its impacts. He cited the recent Bhotekoshi flood, which claimed the lives of children and disrupted the education of many others, as an example of the growing threats posed by climate-related disasters.
UNICEF Nepal said the country’s endorsement reinforces its commitment to strengthening climate resilience, disaster risk reduction and the meaningful participation of young people in climate-related decision-making.
According to the UN agency, the Government of Nepal is also addressing these challenges through key climate policies and plans, including its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0 and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which recognise the need to build resilience among children, young people and communities.
The declaration is the first global commitment specifically focused on putting children and young people at the heart of climate action, the statement added. It seeks to help governments incorporate children’s needs and voices into climate policies and decision-making.
“Children and young people are among those most affected by climate change, despite contributing the least to its causes,” said Laganda, adding that Nepal’s endorsement reflects its commitment to protecting essential services, strengthening resilience and creating opportunities for young people to contribute to climate solutions.
Jayanti Bam, UNICEF Nepal Youth Advocate, said the endorsement was an important step towards ensuring that children and young people have a meaningful voice in climate decision-making.
“When young people are listened to, empowered and included, climate action becomes stronger, more innovative and more effective,” she said.
