Trek for Climate Action

Trek for Climate Action is the first edition of knowledge-based travel, organized by Bighnaharta Nepal, a youth-led non-profit organization. The initiative aims to bring together people from different sectors including youth-led organizations, conservationists, environmentalists, disaster risk reduction and climate change professionals/activists, and the private sector to form an alliance to combat the issues of climate change and for the promotion, protection, and restoration of the ecosystem. As youths specializing in different sectors come together, we not only establish a strong network but also discover new findings and learn and explore different ways we can collaborate for climate action. 

Even though Nepal has negligible contribution to Greenhouse gasses (GHGs), the adverse impacts of climate change are already seen in many parts of the country, especially among the mountain communities, and marginalized and indigenous communities that are closely connected to nature. Every year thousands of these lives are at risk due to erratic weather conditions leading to unexpected heavy rainfall, landslides, floods, and drought.  Such disasters not only take lives and damage properties but also adversely impact the social, economic, cultural as well as mental well-being of these communities, especially among the vulnerable population. Reading and learning about the climate crisis online and staying behind our computers neither provides us with the comprehensive cause and effect of the problem nor gives us an in-depth understanding of issues faced by these communities. 

In order to gain contextual knowledge about climate change, we must be able to observe the issues closely by spending time with these communities. Hence, trekking is one of the best ways we can do this. In addition to that, spending time in nature is a great way to connect with our mind, body, and soul where we can self-reflect and heal ourselves. 

Objectives

• Build a strong network of individuals from various sectors to work together for climate action,
• Closely observe the impacts of climate change on the ecosystem,
• Closely interact with the communities to find out the various impacts of climate change on their lives and livelihood,
• Discuss the issues observed and find out feasible solutions,
• Explore the collaborations among the participants to work on the identified solutions in future

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