ANTALYA: Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Geeta Chaudhary has pledged to strongly advocate for the protection of the rights, identity, culture and ancestral lands of Indigenous communities affected by climate change.
Speaking at a discussion organised by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) on the sidelines of COP-31 in Antalya on Friday, Minister Chaudhary stressed the need to incorporate the impacts of climate change and disasters on Indigenous communities, their territories, cultures and traditional livelihoods into climate adaptation and development plans.
Noting that her current position was made possible by the movements and struggles of Indigenous communities for inclusion, she reaffirmed her commitment to raising their concerns at national and international forums.
Indigenous activists and representatives participating in the discussion called for the rights, cultures, ancestral lands and livelihoods of climate-vulnerable communities to be prioritised in international climate negotiations and decision-making processes, including at COP-31.
They pointed out that although climate change impacts are intensifying across the Himalayan region, the concerns of the most affected Indigenous communities have not received adequate attention on international platforms.
Participants also stressed the need to prioritise the plight of communities affected by the recent Rasuwa-Bhotekoshi disaster, along with the protection of their ancestral lands and cultural heritage, in Nepal’s climate negotiations.
They further emphasised that Nepal should adopt an inclusive approach when raising Himalayan issues at international forums by incorporating the concerns of Indigenous nationalities, women, youth and persons with disabilities into its climate agenda.
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