Kathmandu, 10 October 2025

UN-Habitat Nepal organized a two-day workshop on “Youth Engagement in Climate Action through the Localization of the Sustainable Development Goals” on 9–10 October 2025 in Pulchowk, Lalitpur. Convened under the project “Accelerating Localization of Integrated Climate Action in Nepal”, funded by the SDG Joint Fund and implemented jointly by WFP, UNDP, and UN-Habitat, the event brought together 53 participants (including 28 women and 26 youth aged 18–30) representing universities, civil society, and municipal and development partners.

The workshop aimed to strengthen youth capacities for locally driven climate action and to create a co-learning platform for youth engagement in municipal governance and SDG localization. Participants included youth individual youth climate advocates, and from CSOs, NGOs, students, development agencies (CIUD, Lumanti, CleanUp Nepal, Chay-Ya Nepal, Institute of Engineering, Kathmandu University, ICIMOD).

Over two days, a blend of technical sessions, interactive design-thinking exercises, motivational talks, and physical wellbeing activities fostered interactive learning and collaboration. Opening sessions assessed participants’ familiarity with the SDGs and local climate risks. They also identified priority local concerns — air pollution, waste management, water scarcity, flooding, and deforestation — as entry points for youth action. Presentations from UN-Habitat, Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA) / UNEP, and partner organizations highlighted urban climate vulnerabilities, nature-based solutions, green construction techniques, and community-led waste management as practical pathways to resilience.