For many youth, migration represents a route to better life — whether in search of employment opportunities or for good education, many youngsters are migrating every day from Nepal. But beside these reasons, could climate change also be affecting youth migration?

 

There is no clear answer as to the link between youth, climate change and migration yet needs to be discovered. But few experts of climate change and migration attempted to unfold the relationship between these three elements on December 18 at an interaction programme on ‘Climate Change, Youth and Migration’ held at Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal.

 

In the event held on the occasion of International Migrants Day, one of the speakers was water and climate change expert Ajaya Mani Dixit. Giving an instance of Rampur Khadauna, a village in Nawalparasi, he explained, “Almost half of the land area of this village is submerged in water for three months every year”. Due to this condition, “50 per cent of the youth do not stay there. In, a fact no one wants to live in this village” and “it could have forced the youth from there to migrate”.

 

Through a PowerPoint presentation, he also showcased greenhouse gas emissions made by various nations, explained how the use of fossil fuels began in the West some 150 years ago and its impact in countries like Nepal.

 

Despite the fact that Nepal’s total greenhouse gas emission share is negligible as compared to the developed nations, it is facing the impacts of climate change. In this context, Nepali youth have “a new responsibility to raise the issue more strongly at a global level”. 

 

Meanwhile, various international studies have pointed out the impacts of climate change the world will face in years to come. “Though Nepal will also face the consequences, there is no scientific base to explain how it will affect Nepal, youth and their migration as we lack study,” Dixit stated.

 

Echoing similar views, Climate and Migration researcher Kushal Gurung stated, “Migration may be a coping strategy for climate change, but we lack study on this.” Mentioning the fact that adaptation is very important in climate change, he argued, “Youth are the best point of intervention for any kind of adaptation on climate change. But more studies are required to understand the linkage among youth, migration, and climate change.”

 

Meanwhile, Bibhor Kayastha, Project Officer, Sustainable Livelihoods and Food Security Programme, OXFAM presented an overview on Nepalis migrating to India.

 

The discussion was organised by National Institute of Development Studies (NIDS) in collaboration with Pourakhi Nepal, OXFAM, and ICIMOD.