CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS IN NEPAL

Abstract

Climate change may be caused by both natural and anthropogenic forcing, but at present
time unsustainable anthropogenic activities and enormous greenhouse gases (GHGs)
emissions are causing erratic climate change. The Earth's average temperature has risen by
1.5°F over the past century, and is projected to rise another 0.5°F to 8.6°F over the next
hundred years. Nepal is one of the least developed country in the world and was ranked as
the 4th most vulnerable country due to the impacts of climate change by Maplecroft in 2010,
but, in contrary, it is one of the least contributor to global GHGs emissions, emitting 0.027%
of global total. Lack of adequate fund for adaptation makes Nepal and its people very
vulnerable to climate change. This study is intended to study the impacts of climate change
that Nepal might face in future. The study was generally based on the secondary data like
journal papers, reports and others. Nepal lies in Hindukush Himalaya region and IPCC 4th
Assessment report suggests region as a “white spot” due to the lack of adequate research.
Even though compressing limited number of research, climate change is supposed to cause
enormous negative impacts in this region and Nepal. It was found that the temperature of
Nepal is warming at the rate faster than that of the global average. Review of many papers
shows that vulnerability of Nepal may be alleviated by the fact of country’s fragile
ecosystem, uneven topography, high dependency on agriculture, hydroelectricity and low
GPD. It was seen that climate impacts many key sectors of Nepal like agriculture,
hydroelectricity, food security, tourism and many others. Climate change is expected to
cause many other climate induced hazard like flood, drought, landslides. Thus, these impact
will directly impact the economy of the country and hence the livelihood of the people.

Full text

Climate Change and its impacts on Nepal
Regan Sapkota1* Prof. Kedar Rijal2, PhD
1Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
(*Corresponding author: regan.sapkota2@gmail.com)
2Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Abstract
Climate change may be caused by both natural and anthropogenic forcing, but at present time
unsustainable anthropogenic activities and enormous Green House Gases (GHGs) emissions is
causing erratic climate change. Earth's average temperature has risen by 1.5°F over the past
century, and is projected to rise another 0.5 to 8.6°F over the next hundred years. Nepal is one of
the least developed country in the world and was ranked as the 4th most vulnerable country due to
the impacts of climate change by Maplecroft in 2010, but, in contrary, it is one of the least
contributors to the emissions of GHGs, emits only 0.027% of global share. Lack of adequate fund
for adaptation makes Nepal and its people very vulnerable to climate change. This study is intended
to study the impacts that Nepal might face as an effect of climate change in future. The study was
generally based on the secondary data as journal papers, report and others. Nepal lies in HinduKush
Himalaya region and IPCC 4th Assessment report suggests region as a “white spot” due to the lack
of adequate research. Even though compressing limited number of research, Climate change is
supposed to cause enormous negative impacts in this region and Nepal. It was found that the
temperature of Nepal is warming at the faster that of the global average. Review of many papers
shows that vulnerability of Nepal may be alleviate by the fact of country’s fragile ecosystem,
uneven topography, high dependency on agriculture, hydroelectricity and low GPD. It was seen
that climate impacts many sectors; agriculture, hydroelectricity, food security, tourism and many
others. Climate change is expected to cause many other climate induced hazard like flood, drought,
landslides. Thus, these impacts will directly impact the economy of the country and hence the
livelihood of the people.
Keywords: Climate change, Green House Gases, IPCC, vulnerable, impacts, climate induced
disasters

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Table of Contents
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 1
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ 2
Abbreviations and Acronyms ......................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER I .................................................................................................................................... 4
Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 4
1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Statement of the Problem .................................................................................................. 6
1.3 Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 7
CHAPTER II ................................................................................................................................... 8
MATERIALS AND METHODS .................................................................................................... 8
CHAPTER III ................................................................................................................................. 8
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS ................................................................................................... 8
3.1 Temperature and Precipitation Projections of Nepal .................................................... 8
3.2 Impacts on Agriculture ................................................................................................. 9
3.3 Impacts on Livestock Production ............................................................................... 10
3.4 Impacts on Hydroelectricity ....................................................................................... 10
3.5 Impacts on Livelihood ................................................................................................ 11
3.6 Impacts on Economy .................................................................................................. 12
3.7 Climate Induced Disasters .......................................................................................... 12
CHAPTER IV ............................................................................................................................... 15
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................. 15
References ..................................................................................................................................... 16

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Abbreviations and Acronyms
AR5 Assessment Report 5
CBS Central Bureau of Statistic
CDES Central Department of Environmental Science
CO2 Carbon dioxide
Eg. Example
GDP Gross Domestic Products
IDS Integrated Development Society
INGO International Non-governmental Organization
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Chnage
LAPA Local Adaptation Plan of Action
MoPE Ministry of Population and Environment
M.Sc. Masters in Science
NAPA National Adaptation Programmes of Action
NGO Non-governmental Organization
NPC National Planning Commission
REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
TU Tribhuvan University
UNCBD United Nations Convention on Biodiversity
UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
US$ United States Dollar

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CHAPTER I
Introduction
1.1 Background
Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., by using
statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for
an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal
processes or external forcing such as modulations of the solar cycles, volcanic eruptions, and
persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use. United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines climate change as: “a
change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the
composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability
observed over comparable time periods.
Greenhouse gases is considered as the major force in causing the accelerated climate change.
Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions have increased since the pre-industrial era, driven
largely by economic and population growth, and are now higher than ever. This has led to
atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide that are unprecedented
in at least the last 800,000 years. Their effects, together with those of other anthropogenic drivers,
have been detected throughout the climate system and are extremely likely to have been the
dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century. Earth's average temperature
has risen by 1.5°F over the past century, and is projected to rise another 0.5 to 8.6°F over the next
hundred years. Small changes in the average temperature of the planet can translate to large and
potentially dangerous shifts in climate and weather. Rising global temperatures have been
accompanied by changes in weather and climate. Many places have seen changes in rainfall,
resulting in more floods, droughts, or intense rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves.
The planet's oceans and glaciers have also experienced some big changes - oceans are warming
and becoming more acidic, ice caps are melting, and sea levels are rising. As these and other
changes become more pronounced in the coming decades, they will likely present challenges to
our society and our environment.

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Nexus between Climate Change and its impacts on Nepal
Nepal is a land-locked country located in South Asia between India and China, at 28° north latitude
and 84° east longitude (Alam & Regmi, 2004). It has an extremely varied and complex climate,
driven by the contrasting terrain and regional weather systems. Within a few hundred kilometres,
the country’s elevation changes from the 70m low in the Terai to the top of Mount Everest
(8,848m). Nepal was ranked as the 4th most vulnerable country due to the impacts of climate change
(Maplecroft, 2010) but is one of the least contributors to the emissions of greenhouse gases
(GHGs), emits only 0.027% of global share (INDC of Nepal, 2016). Nepal is one of the least
developed countries of the world having GDP of mere US $562 (CBS, 2012) with around 25% of
the total population living under poverty line as of US$ 1.25 a day (NPC 2010). Nepal economy
is highly dependent upon agricultural sector (contributes about 38% of the country GDP), and
supports more than 70% of the country population (CBS, 2010). In addition, Nepal ranks 145 on
the Human Development Index, nearly one-fourth of its population live below poverty line thus
make it very vulnerable to climate change (INDC of Nepal, 2016).
Data on trends of Nepal from 1975 to 2005 showed 0.06°C rise in temperature annually whereas
mean rainfall has significantly decreased on an average of 3.7 mm (-3.2%) per month per decade.
Under various climate change scenarios, mean annual temperatures are projected to increase
between 1.3-3.8°C by the 2060s and 1.8-5.8°C by the 2090s. Annual precipitation is projected to
reduce in a range of 10 to 20% across the country (INDC of Nepal, 2016). The temperature in the
Himalayas, however, is increasing at a faster rate, and this has serious impacts on the country’s
glacial lakes (Raut, 2004). Overall seasonal maximum temperature in the country is found to have
the largest increase of 4.5˚C in spring and smallest increase of 3.3˚C in summer, whereas minimum
temperature in the country is found to have the largest increase of 5.4˚C in winter and smallest
increase of 3.4˚C in summer by the end of the 21st century. Precipitation change: From the
distributions of the PRECIS projected annual precipitation is found to be decreasing by 2% of the
baseline amount by 2020s. However, it increases by 6% and 12% of the baseline by 2050s and
2080s (MoSTE, 2014).

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Legal framework
UNFCCC is the focal body of UN for climate change. Nepal signed the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on 12 June 1992; it was ratified on 2 May, 1994 and
entered into force on 31 July, 1994. Nepali Ministry of Population and Environment (MOPE) is
the focal point for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and
coordinate climate related activities in the country.
Key Policy Interventions/Submission by Nepal
• Climate Change Council, 2009, chaired by the Prime Minister
• Mountain Initiative 2009
• Climate Change Management Division, 2010, MoEnv
• NAPA, 2010
• Climate Change Policy, 2011
• Climate Resilient Planning Tool , 2011: NPC
• Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA), November 2011
• NAPS is ongoing
The Government constituted the Climate Change Council under the chairpersonship of the Prime
Minister in 2009, endorsed the Climate Change Policy in 2011, adopted the National Adaptation
Programme of Action (NAPA) in 2010 and framework for Local Adaptation Plan of Actions in
2011. In 2010 a Climate Change Management Division under the Ministry of Environment
(currently Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment) was established and two years later
the Climate Change Budget Code was approved. Further, the National Planning Commission
prepared a tool for climate resilient planning which mainstreams adaptation to climate change into
the planning process.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Climate is changing at an unprecedented rate and this is highly impacting people of Nepal as well
as the economy of the country. Nepal was once regarded as the 4th most vulnerable country to
Climate Change (Maplecroft, 2010). It’s extremely varied and complex climate, driven by the
contrasting terrain and regional weather systems, within a few hundred kilometres, the country
rises from the flat Terai plains – with a low point of only 70 metres above sea level – to the top of

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Mount Everest (8,848 metres) which are major regions behind vulnerability of the country. On the
hand, Nepal is one of the least developed countries of the world having GDP of mere US $562
(CBS, 2012) with around 25% of the total population living under poverty line as of US$ 1.25 a
day (NPC 2010). Lack of adequate fund for adaptation makes Nepal and its people very vulnerable
to climate change. Adding to this, it is observed that climate change impacts largely on agriculture,
tourism, hydroelectricity, economy, livelihood and might cause many climate induced disaster like
GLOFs, landslide, flood, drought, epidemic. Thus, this study is intended to study the impacts that
Nepal might face as an effect of climate change in future. This paper might be helpful to develop
certain remedial plan to adapt or mitigate those situations.
1.3 Objectives
General Objective:
To study the nexus between climate change and Nepal.
Specific objective:
• To study the impacts of climate change by sectoral basis in Nepal

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CHAPTER II
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was generally based on the secondary data. More than 10 scientific journal articles
published on the international journal, few reports and some authorize web page were selected and
critically reviewed. Here, syntheses have been drawn after reviewing those papers in order to
document nexus and the impacts of climate change in Nepal.
CHAPTER III
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Impacts of climate change is uncertain. Nepal lies in the central part of Hindukush-Himalaya
region. IPCC's 2007 Fourth Assessment Report designated Hindukush-Himalaya region a "white
spot" because of the limited number of scientific studies conducted in this region, including Nepal.
Though lack of adequate research but the amount of we have till now suggests that some positive
impacts of changing climate might be seen on some places while in the other negative impacts
been seen. But, in long run in most of the places negatives impacts because of climate change is
considered to be dominant. Some of the impacts of Climate change that Nepal is facing and might
be facing in future are discussed below.
3.1 Temperature and Precipitation Projections of Nepal
According to the study done Nepal Climate Vulnerability Study Team (NCVST), 2009, the
projection of climate change in Nepal is given below:
• Global circulation model (GCM) projections indicate that the temperature over Nepal will
increase between 0.5ºC and 2.0ºC with a multi-model mean of 1.4ºC, by the 2030s and
between 3.0ºC and 6.3ºC, with a multi-model mean of 4.70C, by the 2090s. GCM outputs
suggest that extremely hot days (the hottest 5% of days in the period from 1970 to 1999)
are projected to increase by up to 55% by the 2060s and up to 70% by the 2090s.
• GCM outputs suggest that extremely hot nights (the hottest 5% of nights in the period from
1970 to 1999) are projected to increase by up to 77% by the 2060s and 93% by the 2090s.
• GCMs project a wide range of precipitation changes, especially during the monsoon: from
a decrease of 14% to an increase of 40% by the 2030s and from a decrease of 52% to an
increase of 135% by the 2090s.

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3.2 Impacts on Agriculture
The agricultural sector accounts for around three quarters of employment and around one-third of
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nepal. The sector is predominantly made up of small-scale
farming and much of this is dependent on natural rainfall, though there is a growing level of
irrigation. Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. Climate change might reduce the
amount of the desirable crops while on the others hand encourages pest and weed proliferation.
Agriculture in Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its rugged terrain with steep
topography, tectonically active geology and related risks of the natural disasters. Large proportion
of marginal farmers with small landholding, limited irrigation availability, low income level,
limited institutional capacity, and greater dependency of agriculture on climate-sensitive natural
resources increase the degree of vulnerability (Regmi and Adhikari, 2007; World Bank, 2008).
Farmers are likely to face three types of costs from climate change, namely, direct impact, indirect
impact, and adaptation costs (Pant, 2011).
• Direct costs from the effects of climate change on crop production, livestock production,
and risks of natural hazards.
• Indirect costs from the effects of climate change on socioeconomic conditions and lost
opportunities for their advancement of the living conditions.
• Costs of adaptation incurred to keep themselves away from or minimize the negative
effects of climate change.
A number of additional potential effects from climate change are highlighted, including higher
flood risks, enhanced soil erosion and changes in the range/prevalence of pests and diseases – these
would all be likely to increase impacts to the agricultural sector (IDS-Nepal et al., 2014). Study
shows increase in temperature has positive impacts on the production of rice. According to MoPE,
2004 rice production may increase by 0.09% to 7% in the case when temperature is increased upto
4°C and precipitation is increased by 20%. The analysis found potentially high impacts in the Terai
region, especially for rice and wheat production, but a varied pattern in the hills and mountains,
including some potential benefits. Assuming that the projected loss of rice and wheat yields in
Terai region, the climate change is likely to reduce food production in Nepal. Everything else
remaining the same, the national loss in food production is expected to be 5.3% in 2020s, 3.5% in
2050s and 12.1% in 2080s. The loss of food grain thus accounts to 435 thousand metric tons in

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2020s, 302 thousand metric tons in 2050s and 1040 thousand metric tons in 2080s. By the 2070s,
net agricultural losses in Nepal are estimated to be the equivalent per year of around 0.8% of
current GDP, or US$140 million/year in current prices. The impacts were much more severe in
years of extreme rainfall variability. However, it is to be noted that increase in maximum
temperature may not have adverse effect on rice yield in hills and mountains.
On the other and hand Climate change is making the situation of the Food Security even worse.
Climate change have affected production, processing, consumption and distribution of food either
directly or indirectly. Thus, plays significant role in the alteration of the personal hygiene and
human heaths by increased activities of the Pathogens (Pant, 2012).
3.3 Impacts on Livestock Production
There is a growing concern on the effects of climate change on livestock production. Climate
change can have positive as well as negative impacts on livestock production. On positive aspect,
rise in temperature may result into more greenery and pasture land, benefiting livestock production
in high mountains. However, opinions are divided. Several studies (e.g., Dercon, 2006; Hertel and
Rosch, 2010; Kabubo-Mariara, 2009; Mader and Davis, 2004) show that climate change adversely
affects livestock and poultry production. Kabubo-Mariara (2009) argues that livestock production
is highly sensitive to climate change; there is a non-linear relationship between climate change and
livestock productivity.
Climate change also increases mortality and morbidity of animals particularly from the climate
sensitive infectious diseases (Patz et al., 2005b). Increases in zoonotic diseases among the animals
also increase the risks of transmission of such diseases in the human being. Moreover, Climate
change increases the costs of veterinary medicines in livestock and poultry production. Increased
temperature and relative humidity also increase risks on aflatoxin development in feed stuffs
increasing the risks of poisoning among animals (Pant, 2011). In summary, as a result of climate
change, Nepalese farmers have to bear loss from the livestock production.
3.4 Impacts on Hydroelectricity
Water is critical for Nepal’s power production as hydroelectric plants provide around 90% of total
electricity (IDS-Nepal et al., 2014). Rainfall has a major influence on generation, affecting run-of-
river plants as well as reservoir levels. During the dry season, river flows are insufficient to operate
all plants, which results in high levels of planned interruptions (often referred to as ‘load shedding’

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in Nepal), compounding existing problems of unmet demand. An analysis of the impact of climate
variability on electricity production (and the impact of planned interruptions) indicates that
economic costs could be equivalent to 0.1% of GDP per year on average, and 0.3% in very dry
years. On the other hands, hydroelectric plants are also subject to the risks of floods including, in
some locations, GLOFs. Indeed, a multi-million dollar hydropower facility was lost in 1985 due
to a GLOF event and there have been more recent losses of micro hydro plants from floods.
Thus, for the country like Nepal which is highly dependent on the hydroelectricity for power
generation, Climate change is considered as curse in long run. Many reports say that, due to glacier
melting the discharge in the river will increase for certain period of time and this time might be
fruitful for the electricity generation. But, if we consider long run, water discharge level is
supposed to decrease after 2050, thus it will be hard for Nepal to extract high amount of electricity
from running water. Many other climate induced disaster like GLOF, flood, drought, landslides,
erosion is also supposed to cause negative impacts on hydroelectricity generation.
3.5 Impacts on Livelihood
Climate change impacts will affect Nepal through a number of pathways, including disasters,
hydropower, irrigation, and domestic water usage. This might lead to the change in livelihood of
people. Some people migrate to other place for better livelihood. While some others might change
their habits to adapt to the changing climate, for example; some people had changed their cropping
systems or patterns. Few case studies done by IDS Nepal shows that, there is increase in the
frequency of occurrence of hailstorm in Kaski district while on the other hand, west Rapti river
side have witness high number of floods in last decade. Meanwhile, in Mustang a decline in the
productivity of buckwheat over the last decade was seen. The above three case studies from
different part of Nepal can be example how climate change is affecting different communities of
the country. Nepal has suffered from the impacts of increased frequency of extreme weather
events, such as landslides, floods and droughts resulting in the loss of human lives as well as high
social and economic costs. The way of living has been changed by the impacts of climate change
and hence the livelihood.
About 1/3rd of working force of Nepal is dependent upon agriculture as their major occupation to
sustain their livelihood. But we discussed above that agriculture is very sensitive to climate change.
The negative impacts of climate change on agriculture might largely affect the economy and hence

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the livelihood of the people. Many people are also dependent upon tourism sector to sustain their
livelihood, but for mountainous country like Nepal, climate change might cause many adverse in
tourism sector which might ultimately affect the livelihood of the people who are dependent upon
the tourism sector to sustain their livelihood.
3.6 Impacts on Economy
Current climate variability and extreme events lead to major impacts and economic costs in Nepal.
These are dominated by floods, but also include rainfall variability on agriculture (rain-fed
agriculture, soil erosion, droughts) and low season river flows reducing hydroelectricity
generation. The 2013 study on Economic Impact Assessment of Climate Change in Key Sectors
(agriculture, hydropower and water-induced disasters) has estimated direct cost of current climate
variability and extreme events equivalent to 1.5 to 2% of current GDP/year (approximately USD
270-360 million/year in 2013 prices) and much higher in extreme years, rising to 5% or more. This
is high by international levels (IDS-Nepal et al., 2014). An indicative analysis of the impacts of
climate change on water-induced disasters at the national level estimates that the additional
average expected annual direct cost could be equivalent to 1.1%/ year of current GDP by mid-
century (over and above existing damages), with an upper estimate of almost 3%/year.
3.7 Climate Induced Disasters
Climate change not only impacts on agriculture, livestock, tourism, hydroelectricity, livelihood
and economy. It is supposed to impact almost every sector and people from every walk of the life,
either directly or indirectly. Besides direct impacts of direct of climate change there is many other
indirect impacts of climate change that might affect Nepal and its people severely. Climate induced
disaster and their further consequences can be as the indirect effect of climate. Some of the disaster
that can be triggered by climate change is discussed below.
Flood:
Nepal is also frequently affected by water-induced disasters. Floods during the monsoon are a
natural phenomenon in Nepal. Floods are particularly associated with summer monsoon rains, and
are a feature of current climate variability. The country's more than 6,000 rivers and rivulets, with
a total of 45,000 km in length, support irrigated agriculture and other livelihoods, but also wreak
havoc in valleys and in the terai when they overflow. For example, the Koshi embankment breach
flood caused by institutional dysfunction affected 3.5 million people in Nepal and India (Dixit,

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2009: Shrestha et al, 2010). At the same time, the return period of a flood of a certain magnitude
is found to reduce significantly, such that the flow associated with a 1-in-10 year event could
happen every few years under climate change, and a 1-in-100 year event could occur every few
decades (IDS-Nepal et al., 2014). In most cases, climate change is projected to increase the
intensity and frequency of high flows, and increase flood risks in Nepal. Flood inundation is the
major climate-related hazard in the country, affecting property, agriculture, infrastructure (roads,
bridges, communications and transmission networks), business and commerce and, at worst,
causing loss of life. Each major flood costs the average household the equivalent of US$9,000. In
a desperately poor country such as Nepal, where average household annual income in 2011 was
US$2,700 (using 2011 exchange rates), these floods are a huge financial burden. The floods also
bring water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, putting lives at risk – particularly of the
elderly and children. This story is replicated across Nepal. Between 1983 and 2010, floods have
every year on average resulted in 283 deaths, 8000 homes destroyed and 29,000 families affected
(CDKN, 2014). There are also additional risks from Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) which
can impact on communities and infrastructure for considerable distances downstream. Geo-
scientist have predicted that 4 degree Celsius increase in temperature could wipe out 70% of snow
and glaciers and this eventually result in GLOF. In Nepal’s Himalaya, total estimated ice reserve
between 1977 and 2010 decreased by 29% (129 km3). The number of glacier lakes increased by
11% and glaciers recede on an average by 38 km2 per year during the same period. Hence, climate
change has visible and pronounced impacts on snows and glaciers that are likely to increase the
possibilities of Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (INDC of Nepal, 2016).
Landslides
It is another climate induced hazard which are often related to extreme rainfall or flood events.
Landslides also have significant impacts on communities and infrastructure. Nepal is a country of
uneven terrain and people of hills and mountainous region are consider to be vulnerable to
landslides. Occurrence of landslides can be triggered by high precipitation hence climate change
can be significant role in increase the frequency of the precipitation and hence the landslide.

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Drought
Due to climate change some part of the country might get excessive amount of rain while other
part might suffer from drought. Increasing temperature might trigger drought event. Climate
dynamics suggest that agriculture in Nepal will face immense challenges as seasonal drought
increases. The impact of the 2008-2009 winter droughts on farming and on local food security was
severe. In that period, most monitoring stations received less than 50% of normal rainfall, 30%
recorded no precipitation at all and temperatures were 1-2°C above average. At the national level,
wheat and barley production decreased by 14.5% and 17.3% respectively and the 2009 maize
production was also seriously affected. At present, 40 districts, mostly in the West, face major
food deficits and the World Food Programme (WFP) anticipates having to provide Nepal with
almost four times the food aid it did in the past. Thus increase in the frequency in the occurrence
of the drought event will effect severely in agricultural sector. Thus, Nepal, a country with its 1/3rd
of working force dependent upon agriculture to sustain their livelihood will be severely impacted.
Forest fire
An increase in the frequency and intensity of droughts, if coupled with extended forest cover, will
greatly increase the risk of forest fires. These fires not only had a negative impact locally but also
have potentially major implications for glacial and snow melt rates at higher elevations.
Forest fires have other indirect long-term impacts, too. The loss of forest implies loss of local
livelihoods. It may also affect integrity of local water sources, as increased instances of local
landslides may damage them while changes in pattern of local rainfall may affect groundwater
sub-processes in the mountains. On the other hand, if higher intensity rainfall become more
frequent, it means that landslide events in the mountains will become more common.
Besides these there are many other climate induced hazards whose frequency might be enhanced
if the climate continues to change abruptly in projected pace. Overall, Nepal is one of the most
vulnerable countries to climate change, water-induced disasters and hydro-meteorological extreme
events and epidemics such as droughts, storms, floods, inundation, landslides, debris flow, soil
erosion, avalanches, public health, personal security, community sustainability. Based on National
Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) 2010, out of 75 districts, 29 districts are highly
vulnerable to landslides, 22 districts to drought, 12 districts to GLOFs, and 9 districts to flooding.

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CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION
Overall, it can be concluded that Climate Change and Nepal have a nexus between each other. It
was found that the temperature of Nepal is warming at the faster that of the global average. Review
of many papers shows that Nepal is very vulnerable to climate change and this problem may be
alleviate by the fact of country’s fragile ecosystem, uneven topography, high dependency on
agriculture, hydroelectricity and low GPD. It was seen that climate impacts many sectors. Few
sectors in which GDP of the country is highly dependent is also impacted by climate change. For
example, agriculture, hydroelectricity. Climate change is expected to cause many other climate
induced hazard like flood, drought, landslides, forest fire etc. with it. Climate change thus directly
impacts the economy of the country and hence the livelihood of the people.

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