KATHMANDU, July 12: Climate action, entrepreneurship and regional cooperation converged as experts and changemakers urged for urgent and inclusive approaches to address the escalating climate crisis in South Asia.
The session entitled “Climate Change and Its Impact on Enterprises—Understanding Risk and Resilience Strategies for Women-led Businesses in a Changing Climate Around the World”, moderated by entrepreneur and innovation specialist Suman Shakya, spotlighted the voices of youth entrepreneur Sambridhi Gyawali and former Indian diplomat Veena Sikri—both of whom brought intergenerational and cross-border perspectives to the table.
Representing a new generation of investors and advocates, Gyawali, who recently helped raise over Rs 100 crore for climate-focused ventures in Nepal, underscored the role of the private sector and youth in shaping resilient economies. She shared her experience as a climate-conscious entrepreneur working with women-led ventures and reflected on how the younger generation is both anxious about and committed to the climate future.
“Our generation is deeply aware—we’re not passive observers,” said Gyawali, who also serves as Managing Director of Nepal Republic Media Limited. “But we need policy to catch up with ambition.” She raised concerns over the bureaucracy surrounding renewable energy projects, particularly solar energy. “If you want to set up a solar farm, you’re trapped in endless loops of provincial and federal approvals. That’s not how we build resilience.”
Gyawali also called for early warning systems in flood-prone areas and better land-use policies that support both hydropower and agricultural security. “We cannot build hydropower projects without factoring in floods. Climate-proofing has to be part of every infrastructure decision,” she added.
Former Indian ambassador and long-time advocate for gender equity Sikri, emphasized that women, especially in rural South Asia, are the silent front-liners of climate change—managing food, water, and fuel in increasingly extreme environments. “Climate change affects rural areas much more than urban ones, and in those spaces, women are the backbone of survival,” she said.
Sikri stressed the urgent need to integrate women’s traditional knowledge into climate governance. “They know how to save seeds, preserve water during droughts, and protect food supply chains during floods,” she said. “Yet, they remain digitally and politically excluded.”
She called for investment in capacity-building, especially in digital skills, and for governments and private sectors to recognize the economic and climate-smart contributions women are already making.