Role of youth in Battling climate change

What motivates me to think about battling climate change?

I haven't been a keen activist in battling climate change. But the way the mother earth is reciprocating the destruction to her, in the from of natural calamities, is a clear warning that we must not take it for granted . So better late than never, i have decided to think and work for combating climate change.

Being a son of a farmer, i grew up in farmlands and have close connection with nature. And saving it from climate change would be nothing but a passion for me.

I am from Bhutan,which is the only carbon negative country in the world. Hence, it might be secure from the direct effects of climate change for few decades. But it isn't about only us, everybody in and around should be considered. Being sandwiched between two giants, India in the south and China in the North, which are the most populated countries. Meaning, there is so much pollution in various forms which doesn't spare us. It is like one does the crime and other gets the punishment. So i came to a understanding that there should be a global commitment, which is possible only through a global programmes such as the climate summit.

Recently i listened to a Bhutanese pilot who has been flying over the Himalayas and the Everest for the last 20 years. I heard him saying that the snow capping the mountains is getting thinner every year. Himalayan glaciers are the source of all the fast flowing rivers in Bhutan which runs the hydro power stations in Bhutan that generates the maximum revenue for Bhutan through the export of electricity.  What would happen to the economy of this tiny kingdom if the glaciers dry up or the ice melt too fast? This worries me.

For the past few years people residing along the banks of Phochhu and Mochhu in Bhutan are facing a real danger because the ice at the source of these rivers are melting too fast. All these this gives me a awakening that it's time to act for myself,my family, my people, and most importantly the earthlings including animals.

What do you see the role of the young people in addressing the climate crisis?

Youth have time, energy and intelligence needed for fighting the global concern - climate change. As modern problem requires modern solutions, youth are the right section of the society to shoulder this responsibility because of the  following:

1. As they are the most productive and active member in the community, they can participate in any activities organised against climate crisis. They have both time and energy to invest for good cause.
2. They are the most readily available member in the community. Adults go to the work therefore no time. Elderly people are either too weak , hence, less productive or unavailable for "climate action"
3. Works such as plantation or cleaning campaign requires strength, and youth have the strength to bring maximum productivity.
4. As our 5th king rightly states, " Future of our country lies in the hands of youth of today", youth of today should prepare their own future. Whatever initiative they take, good practices they start now will benefit them later in future.
5. Whatever programme they start now, can be continued until they grow old. So youth can serve for longer period. They have time to create opportunities and leave legacy.
6. Considering their number (more than 60% of the population of Bhutan are youth), little effort on their part can bring larger impact.
7. Youth can be very influential through "head, heart and hand" and persuade the farmers to go opt for organic farming and use bio pesticides. 

Several good practices in Bhutan have been taken to conserve our pristine environment by the state and the people against climate change such as the following;

Recently government banned plastic all over the country. Anyone carrying a plastic bag would be fined and shopkeepers are refrained from packing the items in plastic bag. Public are advised to carry their own bag while shopping.
It has been mentioned in the constitution of. Bhutan that forest coverage shouldn't fall below 60% of the total area of Bhutan. And it is overwhelming to learn how Bhutan maintains over 60% of forest coverage despite being one of the fastest developing countries in Asia.
Government of Bhutan has been supporting activities organised against climate change. For example Bhutan has announced USD 25-30 million for climate change resilient agriculture recently encouraging the organic farming..

View of Tashichoedzong in Bhutan