Kathmandu, 15 May 2025 – Ahead of the official Sagarmatha Sambaad, civil society organizations and grassroots movements convened for the Sagarmatha People’s Assembly: Voices from the Global South, amplifying perspectives often excluded from dominant climate discussions.
Jointly organized by the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), the Coalition for Gender Responsive Climate Policy, the South Asia Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE), and LDC Watch, the assembly brought together civil society, social movements, and community leaders from across the Global South.
Moderated by Arjun Kumar Karki, Executive President of RRN, discussions highlighted the importance of grassroots voices, particularly those disproportionately affected by climate change. Tasneem Essop, Executive Director of Climate Action Network – International, emphasized that a just transition, originally rooted in labor movements, now plays a crucial role in protecting vulnerable communities facing both climate and socio-economic injustices.
Speakers challenged dominant global narratives. Dereje Alemayehu, Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Climate Justice, underscored the reality that illicit financial flows keep the Global South financing the Global North, rather than the other way around. He called for tax justice as an essential step toward climate justice. Stefano Plato, Coordinator of the UN Financing for Development CSO Mechanism, urged a reimagining of global multilateralism, calling on Nepal, as a co-facilitator of the upcoming Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), to support justice-based economic frameworks.
Grassroots solutions were emphasized as key drivers of transformative change. Maureen Santos from the People’s Summit for COP30 stressed that real solutions must be rooted in lived experiences, not market-driven financial mechanisms. Sindhu Dhungana, Alternative Board Member of the Green Climate Fund, warned of an imbalance between mitigation and adaptation financing, leaving developing nations at a disadvantage.
Concerns over climate finance deepening injustice were raised by Wanun Permpibul from Climate Watch Thailand and Amanullah Porag from350.orgSouth Asia, who highlighted its role in enabling a new form of neo-colonialism. Armayanti Sanusi from Solidaritas Perempuan spoke of human rights violations in Indonesia caused by foreign-funded geothermal projects, pointing to the use of state power to suppress community resistance.
Gender justice was highlighted by Sharmila Karki of SAAPE, reinforcing the need for inclusive policies. Prem Dangal from the All Nepal Peasants’ Federation (ANPFa) critiqued carbon trading and other market-based mechanisms, urging strong, people-led movements instead.
The assembly concluded with an open discussion, underscoring the need to ensure minority groups, including LGBTIQ communities, are meaningfully included in just transition efforts.
