Kathmandu climate march demands #PayUp

Over 300 participants, including youths, farmers, women, people with disabilities, members of civil society organizations, and marginalized and indigenous people, gathered in Kathmandu for the People’s Climate March 2024. They called for accountability in climate finance, urging the Global North to #PayUp for its climate debt.

The march began at Jawalakhel at 8:30 am, passing through Damkal Chowk and Lalitpur Mahanagar Parisar, and ended at Pimbahal Pokhari at 10 am. 

A flash mob led by youth groups energized the concluding event at Pimbahal Pokhari, where speakers from diverse backgrounds shared their views. Moderated by Ojaswee Amagain of Climates Nepal and Susmita Baidawar of the Digo Bikas Institute, the session featured prominent voices, including Min Bahadur Shahi from the Human Rights Alliance, Lubh Raj Neupane of RYOM, Jharana Giri from Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA), and Ganesh Dhami of Youth Advocacy Nepal (YAN).

“Today, we stand united with activists worldwide, demanding climate justice,” said one speaker. The rally participants emphasized the $5trn annual debt owed by the Global North to the Global South, calling for immediate action on climate finance as both a moral and legal obligation.

Supported by 24 civil society organizations and networks in Nepal, the march echoed global demands for climate justice and equitable solutions to the climate crisis.