Climate Justice demands accountability, and recognition of affected communities’ voices

Kathmandu: Who bears the loss and who is responsible for causing climate-induced loss and damage is a more vital question than simply measuring the volume and scale of losses during the disaster, stressed the participants of a programme here today.

This view was expressed during a gathering themed on climate justice. The event held in the context of the recent devastating floods in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system discussed climate justice through various perspectives, as the issue has now become a global concern.

The participants were unanimous that the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli floods were among the major catastrophes Nepal has ever faced, with experts linking the disaster to climate change. They said that the impacts of the disaster dubbed as ‘Himalayan tsunami’ are ‘unmeasurable’ as they are multidimensional and long-term.

While the physical damage has been estimated to be around Rs 400 billion, the psychological, mental and emotional impacts, as well as other post-disaster ripple effects, are difficult to quantify.

Climate-induced disasters affect communities disproportionately

Speaking at the programme, Chairperson of Sancharika Samuha Nepal, Kamala Panthi, said as the impacts of climate change are diverse, they affect the communities in a disproportionate way.

She added that lives and livelihood of women including daily wage earners and those from marginalised communities have been tougher as a result of consequences of climate change. Panthi called for further research from this perspective among the communities affected by the recent Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river floods, ensuring justice to such communities.

In view of Manika Shrestha, coordinator of Nepal Mahila Ekata Samaj (NMES), locals and the affected communities and their needs and concern must be in the centre while implementing the campaign for climate justice.

‘Do not re-traumatise affected communities’

During the discussion, journalists urged civil society organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders to engage with disaster-affected people sensitively and responsibly. They said, for example, that repeated questioning about traumatic experiences could risk re-traumatising survivors and causing them further distress.

They stressed that this perspective should be treated as the bottom line of climate justice, going beyond securing funding from international sources. Youth Advocacy Nepal’s President Ganesh Dhami was of the view that climate change is also a matter of geopolitics, and that destruction in the name of development and the exploitation of natural resources have further excluded marginalised communities, pushing them into a vicious circle of poverty.

Their socio-economic rights must be ensured when talking about climate change and climate justice. ActionAid International Nepal’s communications manager Anish Raj Shrestha said the organisation’s campaign for climate justice is centred on three key perspectives: Justice for affected communities, sufficient financing for climate justice and loss and damage, and the principle that polluters must pay and take responsibility.

Rahul Dewan from ActionAid added that the conservation of common resources is vital for justice. He said non-economic loss and damage should also be considered while assessing the impacts of disaster and discussing climate change and justice, while the voices of marginalised and minority communities should be amplified at both national and international levels.

The gathering echoed the need to collect timely and accurate data following disasters, maintain media ethics while reaching out to affected communities for the news reporting, and take collective responsibly to address the post-disaster situation.

The programme was jointly organised by ActionAid Nepal, Youth Advocacy Nepal, NMES and the Makwanpur Mahila Utthan Samaj.

Meanwhile, A Mass Diyo Vigil ( a gathering involving the lighting of traditional oil-fed lamps) event is being organised at the local Basantapur Durbar Area from 3:pm to 6:15 pm this coming Friday, October 2, to empathise with the pains and recognise struggles of families and communities affected by climate-change induced disasters, particularly the recent Bhotekoshi floods.

RSS