VOICE OF  THE CIVIL SOCIETIES IN SOUTH ASIA 

At COP31 in Antalya of Türkiye, South Asian civil society organizations have formed a united front, demanding climate justice from the Global North. 

Their core demand is clear: replace loans with grants to avoid worsening the debt burden on vulnerable countries. Countries like Bangladesh and Nepal have stressed that climate finance must be "new, additional, and grant-based," otherwise communities will be trapped in a cycle of "double victimisation". 

At the same time, South Asian youths and civil society organizations have actively advocated for inclusion of "loss and damage" funding in negotiations and ensuring it reaches frontline communities. 

They have also called for holding major fossil fuel companies accountable and making them pay for the climate disasters they have caused. 

Overall, South Asia's voice at COP31 is a unified call for climate justice and debt relief.  -Shahnaj Begum, In-Charge of Climate & Environment page.