There were no rain forecasts, so no warning alert as such. But early Tuesday, massive floods on the Bhotekoshi river in Rasuwa, a district bordering China, killed at least nine people and left 19 missing. Nepal’s police and Army personnel carried out search and rescue operations throughout Tuesday, as authorities assessed the extent of the...
On the night of May 15, just a day before the Sagarmatha Sambaad climate dialogue began in Kathmandu, the remote district of Humla was struck by disaster. A glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), suspected to have originated from the Kanji Himal, triggered landslides that devastated Tilguan. This timing couldn’t have been more poignant. As leaders...
The first edition of the Sagarmatha Sambaad – the foreign ministry’s flagship dialogue initiative – kicks off in Kathmandu today (16th May). The three-day summit will focus on the existential issue of our time – Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity. This could be taken as an opportunity to separate the Himalayas from...
UN Secretary-General António Guterres sent a video message to the Nepalese government on Friday, warning that the Himalayan glaciers are rapidly melting and urging immediate action. Guterres addressed the issue that despite Nepal producing a negligible amount of emissions in comparison to other countries, they are feeling the effects of the increased temperatures. Nepal has...
Erik Solheim has held senior portfolios with the Norwegian government, including as its Minister of International Development. He has also served as the UN Under-Secretary-General. Currently, he is helping make China’s Belt and Road Initiative environmentally sustainable. Separately, in the early 2000s, Solheim had played the role of a mediator between Nepal’s warring Maoists and...
The impacts of climate change in Nepal are most acutely experienced by local communities, requiring that climate adaptation happen at the local level. The country’s diverse geography and varied vulnerabilities mean that localised approach is essential to effectively address the impact of climate change based on their specific needs. The countries being disproportionately affected by...
After having sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump has once again decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This comes as a means to reinforce his idea of ‘making America great’. However, it is a discouraging move for small, least developed and climatically vulnerable countries like Nepal who are...
Considering the challenges humanity is facing and looking objectively at difficulties in finding appropriate solutions to address them, activism and civic engagement should be considered the springboard to promote long lasting and sustainable changes.Yet, even with governments taking the lead with unprecedented resolve and determination, humanity won’t be able to tackle issues such as climate...
The recent government plans and policies of Nepal 2024 has clearly indicated Nepal’s intention to opt for the leadership role in internationalizing the effects of climate change in the Himalayas and mountains – a formal step towards Nepal’s call for climate diplomacy. Given Nepal’s significant vulnerability to climate change, particularly in its mountainous areas, there...