Climate

As summer monsoon rains continue to get more intense – as in neighbouring Pakistan, one-third of which is still under water, Nepal is preparing to declare a climate crisis.

Minister for Forests and Environment Pradeep Yadav has said that preparations are on to draw world's attention by declaring a climate crisis in Nepal, home to the highest mountains and numerous snow-fed glaciers that have started melting rapidly.

As Nepal is at high risk of climate change-led consequences, Yadav said, declaration of a climate crisis could help. He added that it would be done after an extensive consultation with experts and stakeholders.

He said at a meeting on Monday: "The impacts of climate change are taking place everywhere visually. Climate change is affecting Nepal's mountain, agriculture and water resources. It's high time we declared a climate crisis in Nepal and drew the world's attention to it."

'Modality'

According to him, the ministry is currently doing some homework to find out apt 'modality' to declare a climate crisis, for which Nepal requires fact-based evidence.

Climate experts say global warming is making air and sea temperature rise further. When the atmospheric air gets warmer, it tends to attract more moisture. That, in turn, leads to more intense rainfall during summer monsoon.

Like neighbouring Pakistan which faced a big water-induced disaster this monsoon owing to excessive rainfall, experts and officials say, Nepal too remains prone to intense rains, which have become common in recent years.

Two recent examples include: the devastating floods in Melamchi river basin in June 2021 and the November floods in far-west Nepal. In their wake, both left a trail of destruction.

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