Kathmandu [Nepal], September 10 – Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President and lawmaker Rabi Lamichhane has called for climate justice saying the recent disaster in Rasuwa was linked to the climate crisis.
Addressing the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Lamichhane urged the government to seek international recognition for the Himalayas as a special region vulnerable to climate and disaster risks. He called for easier access to international climate finance, scientific research, data sharing and cross-border early warning systems.
Lamichhane proposed that both Houses of Parliament pass a special resolution on a “Himalayan Climate and Disaster Emergency” and present it at international forums including the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
He also called for the floods to be declared a climate-related disaster of national importance and urged the formation of an all-party parliamentary committee to investigate their causes and assess human and economic losses.
Lamichhane said Nepal should conduct an independent scientific study before making claims of climate-related loss and damage internationally. He urged the government to seek climate justice from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, COP meetings and developed countries with historically high carbon emissions.
He also called for real-time monitoring of glaciers, glacial lakes, rainfall and rivers as well as stronger disaster-response institutions and cross-border warning systems.
Lamichhane said rescue and relief efforts should remain above party politics and be treated as a national responsibility.
