Climate Change Causes Significant Economic and Non-Economic Losses in Nepal

Kathmandu. Looking at the nature, frequency, and intensity of natural disasters seen in Nepal in recent years, climate change appears to be the main cause of most incidents. Due to its mountainous geography and environmental sensitivity, Nepal is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Experts have stated that the disruption of the monsoon's regular rhythm, drought in some places and excessive rainfall in others, rapid melting of snow in the Himalayan region due to rising temperatures, heatwaves in the Terai, and severe drought can no longer be understood as mere natural weather phenomena. As the Earth's temperature continues to rise, such events are expected to increase in the coming years, leading to more dire problems.

According to the disaster portal of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Nepal has incurred direct economic losses of approximately NPR 53 billion due to climate-induced damages in the last 13 years. Disasters such as floods, landslides, glacial lake outbursts, droughts, heatwaves, and lightning have created a severe crisis for Nepal's agricultural system, infrastructure, and human life. Averaging the losses over the past 13 years, Nepal is suffering direct economic losses of over NPR 4 billion annually solely due to climate change.