Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The South Asian Regional Parliamentary Forum (SARPF) for Energy Cooperation was formally launched in New Delhi, India, last week.
The forum aims to foster regional collaboration on climate change, climate justice, climate diplomacy and energy cooperation. Participating member states currently include Nepal, Sri Lanka, India, and Bhutan. Bangladesh has not joined the forum as it currently lacks a parliament.
Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Chairperson of Estimates Committee (India) has been elected as SARPF’s founding chairperson. The leadership of the SARPF is set to rotate annually among member states.
The forum’s primary objective is to collectively address South Asia’s environmental and climate challenges, including energy security and regional cooperation, in a region highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. It aims to foster collaboration in three focus areas – cross-border energy cooperation and trade, energy market formation and regional clean energy development.
Addressing the inaugural session, Deepak Bahadur Singh, chairperson of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the House of Representatives, emphasized the urgent need for collective action to enhance the region’s capacity to address and mitigate climate change impacts. “Through international climate diplomacy, we should advocate for climate justice by engaging in collective dialogue with developed nations and holding them accountable for their responsibilities,” he stated.
Singh said that Nepal, India and other South Asian countries are facing severe climate impacts despite bearing minimal responsibility for global climate change. “It is deeply unfortunate that we have to bear the brunt of this crisis as the cost of the prosperity enjoyed by developed nations,” he said, adding that developed countries have a responsibility to support the region in building capacity to tackle climate challenges and minimize resulting damages.
Singh expressed hope that the forum would serve as a platform for collective action in securing climate justice for the region.
Thakur Gaire, chairperson of the Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of the Directive Principles, Policies and Obligations of the State, along with lawmakers Madhav Sapkota and Nisha Dangi also participated in the meeting.
Pema Drukpa from Bhutan and Eran Wickramaratne from Sri Lanka also addressed the inaugural session.
Dr Ajay Mathur, director general of International Solar Alliance, delivered a keynote speech o the significance of regional energy cooperation for energy transition and energy security of the global south.
Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India, Bhupendra Yadav, graced the inaugural session as the Chief Guest, while Minister of State for Rural Development of India, Kamlesh Paswan, was the Guest of Honor. Steven G Olive, USAID’s Mission Director for India and Bhutan, delivered the vote of thanks.
