With 2024 recorded as the hottest year, 1.45°C above pre-industrial levels, the climate crisis is worsening for a small nation that contributes among the least to global emissions. Are the first-world countries doing anything in this regard?
The Himalayan glaciers could lose 80% of their volume by 2100 under warming trajectories. Likewise, the Terai plains may face 30% longer dry spells, maximising crop failures and migration pressures.
From 2012 to 2024 alone, 44,000 floods, landslides, and storms have occurred and claimed 5,667 lives; 922 people are missing; and approximately Rs 49 billion ($367 million) has been lost.
Farming Fragility
Likewise, farmers no longer practice sustainable agriculture without disrupting the natural balance. The relatively consistent weather that once allowed them to schedule crop planting has now become erratic.
“The weather is becoming so unpredictable that it’s harder for us to know when to farm; half of the crops we grew were ruined due to unexpected rain,” says Deepak, 40, a farmer from Khokana.
According to the National Climate Change Survey 2022, economic losses as high as Rs 415.44 billion have been incurred in the past five years, not including infrastructure issues.
Unfortunately, the impacts of the new technique have forced the farmers to halt practices that have sustained their societies since time immemorial.
Glacial Retreat and the Growing Threat of GLOFs
Glacial retreat and glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) remain central to climate challenges. In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that the shrinking and thinning of Himalayan glaciers were largely due to human-caused climate change. By 2014, the IPCC confirmed that the Himalayas were among the fastest-melting regions in the world.
For example, a glacial lake near the village of Thame in Khumbu breached in August 2024, triggering a flood that destroyed 20 homes, a school, and a hydropower station, displacing 135 people.
Such GLOFs are becoming more frequent, with 26 events recorded recently. Thame experienced a similar disaster in 1985 when the Dig Tsho lake burst, wiping out a nearly completed hydropower plant.
More than 3,800 glaciers are crucial for sustaining river flows, agriculture, tourism, and hydropower. A 2020 study by ICIMOD and UNDP found that 1,400 of the country’s 2,490 glacial lakes are large enough to pose a flood risk, with 47 identified as potentially dangerous.
But reducing these risks by draining parts of glacial lakes requires costly interventions, which frankly exceed the regular budget. So, there is a need for international support to help the country allocate its limited resources to vital areas like health, education, and poverty reduction.
Climate Change-induced Migration
Additionally, increased migration is another concern. Out-migration to areas with better environmental conditions has been linked to chronic drought as depicted by rainfall data obtained from the eastern districts over the last 70 years.
Population declines of over forty per cent in 2021 as compared to 2001 are alarming, and districts like Terathum, Dhankuta, Panchthar, and Taplejung are prime examples. Due to recurrent drought or failure in monsoon seasons, residents of the villages have been compelled to seek other pastures.
The Panchakanya village of Terhathum district recorded a population loss of 40 per cent from 2001 to 2021, and the Thoklung village lost 42 per cent of its population in the same period. The harsh conditions have resulted in people moving to urban centres or even other countries, mainly due to dry spells bringing crop failure.
It is imperative to understand that migration is not an isolated phenomenon; rather, it belongs to a larger narrative of climate change migration. People residing in the villages situated across the Himalayas are experiencing variable rainfall patterns and depletion of water resources. The short supply of irrigation worsens drought, forcing people to shift from their original homes.
Struggle for Climate Justice on the Global Stage
The 2025 Climate Risk Index (CRI) by Germanwatch ranked Nepal at 69, a considerably lower position compared to its 4th place in 2017 and 10th place in 2021. Although this could be an indication of reduced climate impact, analysts warn that the ranking bears no relation to the actual on-the-ground situation.
So, to bring these issues into global discourse, the government hosted a global biennial dialogue in Sagarmatha Sambad to address pressing challenges, particularly those affecting mountain regions. The 2025 event in Kathmandu, themed “Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity”, had over 150 delegates from around the world to share insights and strategies. The three-day event concluded on May 18, 2025, with a 25-point declaration titled “Sagarmatha Call for Action”. This declaration is an urgent appeal to the international community to address the escalating global climate crisis.
Besides, the country has been pressing for climate justice coupled with more funding in international diplomacy. The decision made at COP28 was to set the Loss and Damage Fund; however, the provided $661 million is inadequate.
The nation will have to demand more funding for adaptation and raise awareness about the need to account for items not easily quantifiable in monetary terms, including cultural assets.
While initiatives by the UNDP in areas as vulnerable as Solukhumbu have offered some consolation. However, combating the climate crisis is not just about donating money.
There should be active involvement through governance, agriculture, and community planning. Working with indigenous communities and implementing inclusive policies will enhance the climate change actions, ensuring the protection of the natural and cultural assets.
A Future in the Balance
As the country bears the brunt of the climate crisis, there is still hope that the development of proper policies, technological preparedness and international cooperation will lead to a sustainable future.
However, the issue of losing the guidance of traditional practices due to the usage of advanced technology remains. Besides, there are risks associated with the quality of life of the next generation since they will inherit a nation shaped by the consequences of our actions today.
Known too well due to the Thame event, disaster havoc continues to be endured by world-vulnerable communities. This calls for concerted action in managing climate extremes. Thus, the ambition to unlock the climate finance needed for adaptation must be heightened and ensured.
Pratikshya Bhatta is a junior editor with Nepal Connect.
