Mr. Manjeet Dhakal is a founder coordinator of Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA). At present Mr. Dhakal is a member of the Core Negotiating Team for UN Climate Change Negotiation for the Government of Nepal and is associated with Climate Analytics as LDC Senior Climate Policy Analyst. Manjeet has also served as the Program Director of Clean Energy Nepal (2011 – 2013) and is currently associated with Khowpa College, Bhaktapur, and Amrit Science College, Kathmandu as Faculty for Climate Change and Environment Policy. He was honored in 2009 as ‘International Climate Champion’ by the British Council and ‘Southern Capacity Fellow’ by the Climate Action Network in both 2010 and 2011. He holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Management (MSc) from Pokhara University, Kathmandu.
Mr. Dipesh Chapagain, Co-Founder of NYCA is a young environment professional with a special focus on climate change research and policy advocacy. Climate change adaptation and finance was his professional focus since 2009 in Clean Energy Nepal, OXFAM, and UNDP. He is awarded the International Climate Protection Fellowship 2016 by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation to conduct his research based in Climate Analytics, Germany.
Mr. Chapagain has been involved in global and national climate discussions including the UNFCCC negotiation and attended several COPs since 2009 in Copenhagen. Recognizing his contribution and potential, the US Department of State nominated him for their prestigious International Visitors Leadership Programme 2012 in the USA. Mr. Chapagain is an M.Sc graduate in Environmental Science from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. His dissertation research was awarded the Grant for Applied Research on Climate Change Adaptation in Nepal by the Ministry of Environment.
Abhishek Shrestha is a passionate Youth climate advocate, Campaigner from Nepal working with diverse national and international climate groups since 2008. He was elected to serve as YOUNGO focal person 2012-13 (YOUNGO- Youth Constituency at UNFCCC) at COP 18- Doha and interim focal point at COP -17 Durban to ensure positive and constructive participation of the international youth in the UNFCCC official process. He played an instrumental role in building the youth climate movement in Nepal and in South Asia. He was awarded the British Council International climate champion. He served as a member of the US Embassy Youth Advisory council and led the project Eco-Community and also served as a steering committee member for the council. He holds a master's in Climate Change and Policy from the University of Sussex, UK, and was awarded Chevening Scholarships by the UK Government to pursue his Masters.
Amita is currently working in Nepal Climate Change Support Programme (NCCSP), a UNDP/GoN project to implement the Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA). Previously she worked with Clean Energy Nepal on issues of air quality and climate change for more than 5 years. She has also worked with Clean Air Asia, Philippines on air quality and transport management issues as an FK fellow. A co-founder of NYCA, she was active in bringing climate change and youth issues to the national agenda. She is also Dr. Chandra Gurung Fellow 2008. She was awarded British Council International Climate Champions in 2009 recognizing her role as a youth leader in climate change. She is an alumni of the US Embassy Youth Advisory Council. Her major publications include the Climate Change Training Manual (which has an outreach to more than 30 districts of Nepal) & Kathmandu Air Profile. She has represented Nepal in various programs, including COP15 in Denmark, BAQ Conference, etc, and recently in the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), a US State Department professional exchange program. She holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Management from Pokhara University & is a keen cyclist.
Co-founder of Nepalese Youth for Climate Action, Prashanta Khanal is currently working with Clean Energy Nepal as a Program Coordinator for Clean Air and Urban Mobility program. He has been involved with Clean Energy Nepal since 2008 and has been actively working on climate change, air quality management, and sustainable urban transportation issues. He is also coordinating an informal network of organizations and individuals working on air quality management, Clean Air Network Nepal. He has also worked as Research Assistant for Komite Penghapusan Bensin Bertimbal (KPBB) as a Fredskorpset Exchange Fellow.
He has written and published several policy briefs, manuals, research reports, and articles related to climate change, air quality management, urban transportation, and sustainable urban development. He has a Master's degree in Environmental Management. His interests are sustainable cities, urban mobility, air quality management, and climate change, and ride his bicycle daily to work.