KATHMANDU, Nov 17: Thousands of climate activists, youth leaders, and civil society groups across Nepal rallied on Friday to demand immediate and equitable climate finance, in solidarity with COP-29 discussions in Baku, Azerbaijan. The protests took place in 16 cities, including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, and Biratnagar, urging the Global North to fulfill its climate finance obligations to the Global South.
According to a press statement issued by the organizers, participants, including marginalized communities, Indigenous groups, and smallholder farmers, called upon the Global North to pay its historical climate debt, estimated at $5 trillion annually. They emphasized the need for financial support to combat climate change, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Himalayas and the Terai, which are facing severe impacts such as floods, droughts, and melting snowcaps.
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"The time for empty promises is over," said Bikhyat Khatri from World’s Youth for Climate Justice. "We demand that the Global North acknowledges its responsibility and commits to equitable funding for those suffering the most."
The rally outlined key demands for global climate finance, including public funding, transparent distribution, and grants—not loans—to support vulnerable communities. Organizers emphasized the need for climate finance to prioritize community-led solutions, adaptation, and loss and damage, the press statement read.
This demonstration is part of a growing global movement for climate justice, with participants vowing to hold world leaders accountable for their commitments at COP-29 and beyond.
