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Gagan Thapa
Campaign Ambassador - Climate for Life Campaign
Constituent Assembly Member
“Climate change should be given top priority especially in a country like Nepal because it is related to everything – our dreams of poverty alleviation, our food security, economy, our future and especially our fundamental right to development.”
“During the days of the People’s Revolution in 2006, just like every other Nepali, I too had a dream of a prosperous and developed Nepal. I used to have intensive discussions with many friends and acquaintances regarding the social, economic and cultural aspects for the development of Nepal. We would actively debate how the living standards of Nepalese people and their quality of life should be improved. Then one day, while attending a conference in the United States, I met an old friend of mine - Kashish Das Shrestha. He too had many questions on his mind regarding Nepal's future. He was asking me several questions like where would Nepal be in the year 2010…… 2030 and so on. I replied to all of his queries with much optimism saying we would be doing this and that - in the fields of health, sanitation, agriculture. Then he put forward a life-changing question - "How will something like Climate change affect the development aspirations in a country like Nepal?" He pointed out that in the coming ten years Nepal would be losing about 16% of its agricultural production and would further face many disastrous health problems by 2045.
I was virtually speechless. It was then that I realized that an issue as important as climate change should be given top priority especially in a country like Nepal because it is related to everything – our dreams of poverty alleviation, our food security, economy, our future and especially our fundamental right to development.
This is just not about preserving our natural resources but this is the question of the development and modernization of our country. We are not saying we want to follow previous models of development in our path to progress. In fact, this is an opportunity for our country to leapfrog towards development in a more sustainable manner – socially, economically as well as environmentally.
And now, as a youth leader, I want the young generation of today to deal with this issue. As a Member of Parliament I recommend that Climate Change issues be raised in the parliament and dealt with effectively. I want the general public to be aware of this issue so that our upcoming generation doesn’t have to suffer. This is the time where we all join hands – because Climate Change is happening. And it will affect me; it will affect my family; it will affect my nation and it will affect my society. The time to Act is Now.”
About Gagan
Gagan Thapa has been called by far one of the most articulate leaders and progressive policy makers in Nepal today. Born in Kathmandu on 16 July 1976, Gagan Thapa, has a BA in Sociology from Tri-Chandra College. In 1990 he got his first taste of political activism participating in street protests. But calls it all ‘youthful vigour’. He has been member, secretary and president of Free Student Union; president of Kathmandu Nepal Student Union (NSU); vice-president, general secretary of NSU.
A member of the Constituent Assembly, Honorable Gagan Thapa is one of the very few political voices that consistently advocate the importance of viewing our socio-economic policies though an environmental prism.
Campaign Ambassador - Climate for Life Campaign
Constituent Assembly Member
“Climate change should be given top priority especially in a country like Nepal because it is related to everything – our dreams of poverty alleviation, our food security, economy, our future and especially our fundamental right to development.”
“During the days of the People’s Revolution in 2006, just like every other Nepali, I too had a dream of a prosperous and developed Nepal. I used to have intensive discussions with many friends and acquaintances regarding the social, economic and cultural aspects for the development of Nepal. We would actively debate how the living standards of Nepalese people and their quality of life should be improved. Then one day, while attending a conference in the United States, I met an old friend of mine - Kashish Das Shrestha. He too had many questions on his mind regarding Nepal's future. He was asking me several questions like where would Nepal be in the year 2010…… 2030 and so on. I replied to all of his queries with much optimism saying we would be doing this and that - in the fields of health, sanitation, agriculture. Then he put forward a life-changing question - "How will something like Climate change affect the development aspirations in a country like Nepal?" He pointed out that in the coming ten years Nepal would be losing about 16% of its agricultural production and would further face many disastrous health problems by 2045. I was virtually speechless. It was then that I realized that an issue as important as climate change should be given top priority especially in a country like Nepal because it is related to everything – our dreams of poverty alleviation, our food security, economy, our future and especially our fundamental right to development.
This is just not about preserving our natural resources but this is the question of the development and modernization of our country. We are not saying we want to follow previous models of development in our path to progress. In fact, this is an opportunity for our country to leapfrog towards development in a more sustainable manner – socially, economically as well as environmentally.
And now, as a youth leader, I want the young generation of today to deal with this issue. As a Member of Parliament I recommend that Climate Change issues be raised in the parliament and dealt with effectively. I want the general public to be aware of this issue so that our upcoming generation doesn’t have to suffer. This is the time where we all join hands – because Climate Change is happening. And it will affect me; it will affect my family; it will affect my nation and it will affect my society. The time to Act is Now.”
About Gagan
Gagan Thapa has been called by far one of the most articulate leaders and progressive policy makers in Nepal today. Born in Kathmandu on 16 July 1976, Gagan Thapa, has a BA in Sociology from Tri-Chandra College. In 1990 he got his first taste of political activism participating in street protests. But calls it all ‘youthful vigour’. He has been member, secretary and president of Free Student Union; president of Kathmandu Nepal Student Union (NSU); vice-president, general secretary of NSU.
A member of the Constituent Assembly, Honorable Gagan Thapa is one of the very few political voices that consistently advocate the importance of viewing our socio-economic policies though an environmental prism.
