Climate change, inequality and marginalization

There are about 70 families in Danuwar village. Everyone's livelihood was mostly like this. Below the village was a farming field. That's why Danuwar village was destroyed.

One evening there was a sudden flood in Indravati. Hundreds of families were devastated and lost their lives. Melamchi market became a bugger. Houses were buried under the sand. The land under Kanla of Danuwar settlement also became a ruin. Did the mountain snow melt all at once? Is the glacier melting? Or the frozen glacier suddenly burst for years? Is this a sign of the evil brought about by climate change? Since the day of the flood, thousands of government visits, hundreds of investigations, conferences, seminars, discussions and debates have taken place. But the clear reason for that unimaginable evil has not yet been revealed. Neither their arable land has returned, nor has an alternative been found. Danuwar village hopes to one day remove the sand and get back its arable land.

Shakuntala and her husband nowadays buy millet to make liquor and sell it in Melamchi market. No other working skills, investment and market. The police said that local liquor cannot be sold. But this is what they are determined to do, because there is no other option. Some of the other family members of Danuwar village migrated. Some have been trained in soap making by some kind NGOs. Some plant vegetables in the tunnel. The main source of income is wages, except for the family.

Vulnerability of marginalized communities

Climate change, poverty and inequality are intertwined. According to research, residents of low-income countries are five times more vulnerable and affected by the effects of climate change than residents of high- and middle-income countries. This country is suffering not only from calamities such as floods, droughts, storms, but also from loss of production, changes in weather, uncertainty of production, destruction of crops, price rise, and starvation. As a result, many communities and families have been displaced. This has increased unsafe migration, unsafe labor migration. Modern slavery, including labor exploitation, trafficking, and child labor at home and abroad, is rampant around the world. Low and middle income countries are the first to suffer such effects. However, even within those countries, the most vulnerable are the marginalized communities. Even within those communities, women, children, disabled, gender and sexual minorities are at the center.

If you look at the facts, the settlements of Dalit, tribal or minority communities are seen on the river banks, in risky geographical locations. The aforementioned Danuwar community is similarly at risk. Another example may be the agriculture based free bonded labor community. After the government resettlement, most of the free Haliya and free Kamaiya are forced to live on the river banks or in high risk areas. In case of any natural calamity, they will be the first to be displaced. These and similar marginalized communities will bear the brunt of the direct or indirect impacts of climate change.

How historically marginalized communities can increase their capacity to adapt to climate change or avoid disasters is an important question. Communities with low resilience are automatically forced to relocate for safety and livelihood after a disaster, which puts them at high risk of labor exploitation. Traders looking for opportunities, businesses and industries looking for cheap labor take advantage of the situation at this time. The World Bank predicts that up to 50 million people could be displaced by climate change by 2050. In a poor country like Nepal, it will be significant.

Who is responsible for the damage?

Climate change is not the problem of any one country or community. It is pushing millions of people into displacement, hunger, migration, the risk of forced labor and modern slavery. However, climate change does not affect all people, communities or countries equally. According to an Oxfam study, the world's richest 1% are responsible for 16% of the world's carbon emissions. According to a New York Times analysis, 23 industrialized countries are responsible for 50 percent of the world's carbon emissions. According to NASA scientist James Hansen, 77 percent of the world's carbon emissions were caused by the industrialization of Europe, North America, Australia, and Japan from 1751 to 2006.

According to these facts and research, high-income countries have played a major role in emitting carbon and destroying the climate cycle. While countries that play a minor role in carbon emissions are forced to bear its dire consequences. Those who play the greatest role in climate damage have the greatest capacity to resist its effects. Because the resources and resistance options are with them. On the contrary, poor countries are always forced to face such incidents. In these countries neither the physical infrastructure is ready, nor the availability of resources. There is no proper distribution system of available resources. Apart from that, the lack of skilled manpower with the ability, skills, information and training to manage climate-induced disasters is another challenge.

Another complication is the debt game imposed by rich countries on poor countries in the name of climate finance. Investors are still drowning in the cycle of investments and high interest rates to be paid in the name of increasing private sector participation in environment-friendly projects. Interestingly, people from the same rich countries come to Nepal and countries like Nepal and teach marginalized communities the need to develop climate adaptation skills. A community that has neither a role in climate damage nor knowledge of the damage it causes.

The responsibility of the local level

The above-mentioned Danuwar settlement is at a maximum distance of two kilometers from Melamchi municipality. But this settlement or any other family has not received the full amount of relief provided by the government. There is no community participation in the planning process of the municipality. Children have no knowledge of disaster preparedness at school or in the community, or about climate change impacts and resilience skills. Women are neither involved in the planning, nor in the decision-making process. Some non-governmental organizations have provided minimal support, but there is no plan or preparation focused on marginalized communities from government agencies. There are some embankments along the river banks, but as the river keeps changing its course, it does not mean much. Where to spend the budget of the municipality and the ward is entangled in the grip of some people with access and political tussle.

is an example of this in the middle of the market. Covered halls and some palchas have been built on the banks of the river at the cost of crores, which are vulnerable to damage by the river at any moment. Knowing how such a project was possible? No one wants to take responsibility. Surprisingly, the budget for disaster-damaged municipalities and other municipalities in the country is the same. There is no coordination and long-term planning between the local, state and federal governments. All party leaders are trying to protect their votes. Everyone has a forecast that a bigger disaster may occur in the future, but no one has the answer on how to deal with it in the long term, how to manage the community sustainably.

Melamchi is just one example. On the one hand, the increase in climate-induced disasters, on the other hand, the lack of adequate preparation in disaster management is the irony of Nepal. There is unfair behavior such as not fulfilling the promises of technical and financial support made by rich countries, and imposing debt as a climate fund on poor and vulnerable countries. Another unfortunate reality is that due to the lack of structure and capacity at the national and local levels, we are not ready to receive some international climate funds. Lack of budget with local government is one aspect. But apart from the budget, it is a sad reality that there is an extreme lack of capacity, skills, technical manpower, and sensitivity to the subject.

What can be done?

First of all, countries historically responsible for climate damage will have to take responsibility and accountability. For this, countries like Nepal should lobby strongly internationally. Responsible countries should compensate countries suffering the effects of climate damage, which should be unconditional and fair. Another important aspect is the prompt implementation of international commitments made by those countries. In the name of climate finance, debt to poor countries should be stopped and investments should be made in climate-friendly structures and infrastructure.

It is essential for a country like Nepal to reform its governance system first. As long as policies, programs, and budget allocations are motivated by corrupt governance systems and political interests, resources alone do nothing. There is no possibility of proper utilization. It is necessary to correct the endless irony of non-implementation of programs and lack of coordination between government agencies. Another important aspect is clear policy formulation and effective implementation from federal to local bodies on climate change. It is imperative that every policy and plan is community-centric and prepared with community participation. Local authorities should be well-informed about climate change risks, adaptation and resilience skills. Also, short-term and long-term plans of resistance should be prepared. Local government needs to have all the resources, skills and technology.

At the center of everything mentioned, marginalized populations, gender, caste and class must be kept unconditionally. If this can be done, it is possible to reduce and manage future risks due to climate change. Otherwise, the sudden flash floods in the Solukhumbu basin may be the latest warning bell of the climate change-induced disaster risk that is bearing down on Nepal's complex mountainous climate and geography.