Nepal, categorized as a developing nation, faces significant vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, ranking as the 10th most affected country globally according to the Climate Risk Index. Despite contributing a mere 0.027% to the total global greenhouse gas emissions, Nepal’s susceptibility is highlighted by a study from the Asian Development Bank, projecting a 2.2% loss in its annual GDP due to climate change by 2050.
A recurring argument highlights that historically, developed countries bear greater share of cumulative greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, that majorly increase the risks of global climate change, but its impacts are often most keenly felt by the developing nations. This stark imbalance underscores the necessity of addressing climate change as a global concern and providing support to regions and communities that are disproportionately affected by its effects. This heightened vulnerability is evident in Nepal’s exposure to a broad spectrum of natural disasters, including both extreme and slow-onset climate-related hazards. The complexity of this vulnerability stems from factors such as the fragile mountainous terrain and ecosystems, erratic monsoons influenced by hydrological patterns, the proliferation of unplanned settlements, and a lack of resilient infrastructure. As reported by the Ministry of Home Affairs (2017), approximately 80% of Nepal’s population faces risks associated with natural and climate-induced hazards, encompassing extreme heat stress, flooding, landslides, windstorms, hailstorms, fires, earthquakes, and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs). Over the
past four decades, floods and landslides have emerged as the most frequent hazards, impacting the economy through reduced agricultural productivity, infrastructural damage, and the need for high energy imports during dry seasons, among other consequences.