to have knowledge about climate change

1. Climate Change Vulnerability and Impact Analysis in Nepal
Sabitri Kumari Sharma (Subedi)
Gandaki Boarding School and College of Engineering and Science
Email: sabitrikumarisharma@gbs .edu.np
Abstract
Climate change is considered as one of the most serious threats to natural resources,
human health, people’s livelihood and sustainable development. Nepal is likely to be one
of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. The article on ‘climate
change vulnerability and its impacts analyses in Nepal’ provides the baseline information
on the prevalent climate hazards associated with the impacts. The country’s most
vulnerable sectors are water resources, higher downstream flows in the short term, but
lower downstream flows in the long term due to retreating glaciers and snowmelt,Shift from
snow to rain in winter season increased natural disasters such as flash floods, droughts
and terrestrial ecosystems. Flood, landslides, extinction of life drought etc. result in the
greatest impacts to the Nepalese society. Significant gaps and weaknesses have been
observed in the existing policies and capacities. It is concluded that the country urgently
requires a raft of measures to address the current and future vulnerabilities that is
responsible for a drastic, yet often erratic, changes in seasonal water availability, resulting
in drought conditions during the dry season and increased flooding during monsoon. The
changing climate is an additional burden to the poor people in the mountains who are
already living in poverty, are vulnerable and excluded with predictions of additional risks to
livelihoods .This impacts the ability of farmers to plan ahead. Finally, effectiveness of the
country’s existing policies and capacities in addressing the vulnerabilities and adaptation
measures have been mentioned.
Keywords Climate Change, Hazards, Vulnerability, Impacts

2. Introduction
‘Climate change vulnerability’ is the degree to which a system is susceptible to adverse
effects of climate change including climate variability and extremes.
The development agenda for Nepal is being widely affected by climate change and its
resultant impacts. The country is especially vulnerable to changes in precipitation patterns
and rates and timing of glacial melt, which could impact agriculture, biodiversity, and
hydropower energy production. Floods and landslides are common in Nepal, often
triggered by heavy rains, while droughts are also becoming more frequent. Their direct and
indirect impact seems by poverty; with21 percent under Poverty Line (plan year book 2018).
Global climate Risk Index 2017 has shown Nepal is in the fourth position. Climate change
to cause frequent landslides in the Himalayan region, including Nepal. Nepal experienced
flash floods and landslides in August across the southern border, amounting to US$ 600
million in damages in 2019 says NASA (21 February 2020 Himalayan times)
Likewise, the number of heavy precipitation events has risen in most land regions. The
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’ (IPCC) Special Report “Global Warming of
1.5°C”was published in October 2018. It aimed to determine the difference in
consequences of 1.5°C climate change compared to 2°C. For that, it investigated effects
of past global warming of the same degree. It identifies trends of increasing intensity and
frequency of weather extremes during the past 0.5°C global warming. Furthermore, it
shows that, at least in some regions, the likelihood of droughts and heavy precipitation is
higher under a climate change of 2°C, compared to one of 1.5°C. The IPCC’s Global
Warming of 1.5°C report is inherently linked to the Paris Agreement. As its article 2 states,
one of the goals of this agreement is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature
to well below 2°C,” and to pursue “efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.”(IPCC).
Based on this, it has been tried to provide the readers and learners some information
about natural hazards and the efforts done to reduce risks from climate change for
ecosystems and human society, protect biodiversity, eradicate poverty and enhance
sustainable development in Nepal. The reliance of the majority of the population on rain-
fed agriculture and livestock production puts them in a vulnerable position first because of
the negative impacts that adverse weather conditions have on their production systems
and also due to fluctuating market prices for their production, both locally and
internationally. Mean annual rainfall in Nepal follows a bimodal seasonal pattern with the
long rains generally occurring in June, July and August, while the short rains occur in
February and March. These seasonal patterns have becomeunreliable resulting in frequent
crop failures. Most farmers also lack relevant weather forecast data and information that
would assist them to reduce their losses and/or to diversify to more suitable crops, such as

3. drought resistant crops during the dry season. In general, therefore, climatic fluctuations
have significant impacts on Nepalese society, via agriculture, food security, water, health,
natural disasters and sustainable development of the environment. For instance, extreme
climate events in the country are often associated with very severe socio-economic impacts
that include lack of food, water, energy, and many other basic needs including destruction
of infrastructure as well as loss of lives. Such impacts have tended to retard socio-economic
growth of the country with the ultimate enhancement of poverty.
Vulnerability mapping, climate monitoring, prediction and timely early warning of the
extreme climate events are therefore some of the best strategies for mitigating their
negative impact on humanity, property and the environment as well as taking advantage of
any positive impacts. Accurate and timely information on the characteristics of the extreme
climate events including the associated vulnerabilities are, therefore, crucial inputs in
sustainable development planning.
This paper, therefore, addresses the vulnerability and impacts analysis with the goal of
generating knowledge necessaryto inform the allocation of resources as well as developing
policies and adaptation plans for vulnerable areas, sectors,groups, etc.,to aid in minimizing
climate change risks in the country.
1.1. Objective
The overall objective of this paper is to undertake an assessment of the vulnerability and
impacts of climate variability and climate change in Nepal. This entailed the assessment
and mapping of climate related natural hazards and the associated impacts. The specific
objectives included:
1. Gather and document information on prevalent climate related hazards in the
country.
2. To analyze the consequences of climatic change and find strategies for addressing
the vulnerabilities in the country.
1.2. Scope of the Study
The climate change vulnerability and impacts analyses covered the entire country including
the following three sectors which are crucial in the socio-economic development of the
country: agriculture, extinction of species, life and property, and government’s efforts to
adopt climate changes vulnerability.
1.3. Methodology
As the study is at micro level, the whole Nepal is counted. The study is exclusively based
on secondary data obtained from different books, Project reports, published journals,

4. articles etc. So that the nature of data is already from a secondary source and some
information is used as own experience. Analyses based on secondary data are qualitative
and descriptive.
2. Results and discussions
2.1Analysis in Rise in temperature induced climate change and hazards
The planet's average surface temperature has risen about 2.0 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1
degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon
dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere. Most of the warming
occurred in the past 35 years, with the five warmest years on record taking place since
2010. Not only was 2016 the warmest year on record, but eight of the 12 months that make
up the year — from January through September, with the exception of June — were the
warmest on record for those respective months. (NASA)
Fig.1
Source: World Metrological Organization
The year 2019 was the second warmest year on record after 2016, according to the World
Meteorological Organization’s consolidated analysis of leading international datasets.
Average temperatures for the five-year (2015-2019) and ten-year (2010-2019) periods
were the highest on record. Since the 1980s each decade has been warmer than the
previous one. This trend is expected to continue because of record levels of heat-trapping

5. greenhouse gases in the atmosphere according to World Meteorological organization,
Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) and Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, levels of the main long-
lived greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄)) and nitrous oxide (N₂O)
have reached new highs. In 2018, global CO2 concentration was 407.8 parts per million
(ppm), 2.2 ppm higher than 2017.Global Carbon Project, Global Carbon Budget: Carbon
dioxide emissions grew2% and reached record high of 37 billion tons of CO₂in 2019. There
is still no sign of a peak in global emissions, even though they are growing slower than the
global economy. (WMO)
Fig: 2
Source: Climate.nasa.gov.
In the context of Nepal, in 1999 Shrestha et al. suggested that temperatures are increasing
in Nepal and that rainfall is becoming more variable. A decade later, in 2009, a modeling
exercise conducted by team of Nepali, American, British, Pakistani and Bangladeshi
experts (NCVST,2009) using the emissions scenarios in the IPCC's special report (2007)
found that the temperature will indeed increase in the mid-hills and that this region is likely
to grow more arid in the non-monsoon seasons. It also suggested that precipitation is likely
to be more uncertain and that storm intensity will increase. The report on the exercise
included these key insights (NCVST, 2009) in Global circulation model (GCM) projections
indicate that the temperature over Nepal will increase between 0.5ºC and 2.0ºC with a

6. 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.
Projected climate change. The NAPA reports climate projections conducted by the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Nepal Climate
Vulnerability Study Team (NCVST). The OECD analysis used GCMs with the SRES
(Special Report on Emissions Scenarios) (low emissions) scenario, and projects mean
annual temperature increases of 1.2°C by 2030, 1.7°C by 2050, and 3°C by 2100 relative
to a pre-2000 baseline. The NCVST study used GCM and Regional Circulation Models
(RCMs), and projected mean annual temperature increases of 1.4°C by 2030, 2.8°C by
2060 and 4.7°C by 2090. Both predict warmer winter temperatures.
Spatially, the NCVST study shows a higher temperature increase in western and central
Nepal relative to eastern Nepal for 2030, 2060, and 2090.The Organization for Economics
and Cooperation Development (OECD) projections indicates 5-10% increase in winter
precipitation in western Nepal, but no change in eastern Nepal. But monsoon (summer)
precipitation is projected to increase by about 15-20% across the country. The Nepal
Climate Vulnerability Study Team (NCVST) projects an increase in monsoon rainfall,
especially in eastern and central Nepal. The overall projections are similar to those of the
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that predict a warming trend with
variable, unpredictable and extreme weather events (floods and droughts), increase in rain
during the wet season but the mid-hills will experience less rain during this period according
to National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA). According to General Circulation Models
(GCMs) projection, 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. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology
(DHM) has supported the NAP formulation process by studying and publishing a report in
June 2017 on climatic trends in Nepal using historical data. The report presented here,
Climate Change Scenarios for Nepal, has been prepared with technical inputs from the
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the DHM. It aims
to highlight varied climate change scenarios for Nepal and is designed particularly for the
NAP formulation process.This report foregrounds changes in precipitation and temperature
for the medium-term (2016–2045) and long-term periods (2036–2065) – periods
corresponding to the 2030s and 2050s respectively – with respect to the reference period
(1981–2010) as laid out by the NAP formulation process. Its findings suggest that

7. temperature variables are expected to increase continuously throughout the 21st century.
Mean temperature could rise by 0.9–1.1 degrees Celsius (0C) in the medium-term period
and 1.3–1.8 0C in the long-term period. Consequently, extreme climate events are likely to
be more frequent and severe.
On the ground, perceptions of farmers suggest that precipitation is growing more erratic,
unseasonal, random, days are becoming hotter, the pattern of winds, fog and hailstorms
have altered and that farmers are becoming more vulnerable. A review of adaptation
research confirms their view, identifying Nepal as particularly likely to experience
fluctuations in climate based on Institution for Social and Environmental Transition (ISET,
2008). Nepal's National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAPA) prepared in 2010 also
recognizes that climate will be uncertain and vulnerability will increase. Agriculture provides
much needed sustenance to the country’s predominantly rural population, and climate
changes are projected to have significant impacts on these farming systems. Reduced
water availability during dry periods could exacerbate agricultural water needs, as an
estimated 64% of the country’s farmers rely on water from rains of the monsoons. Planting
and harvesting seasons have been slowly changing in Nepal, due to the shifting monsoon,
and these shifts are likely to become more erratic under a changing climate.
“Climate change is a global challenge and requires a global solution. Greenhouse gas
emissions have the same impact on the atmosphere whether they originate in Washington,
London or Beijing. Consequently, action by one country to reduce emissions will do little to
slow global warming unless other countries act as well. Ultimately, an effective strategy will
require commitments and action by all the major emitting countries.” (Environmental-news)
3 Consequences of climate change.
3.1 Glacial Lake Outburst
Nepal has 20 of the 200 potentially dangerous glacial lakes. Three of these lakes, the Tso
Rolpa, Imja and Thulagi, are in critical condition and need immediate attention to reduce
risk of outburst. The increased rate of glacial melting not only threatens mountain dwellers
of Nepal but also affects millions living along South Asian Rivers and in the delta basin of
Bangladesh. Such far-reaching consequences of climatic changes can undermine
development and reverse development gains (UNDP, Nepal) .In the Himalayan region,
glacial lakes are formed between the end of a glacier and its moraine. According to a study
by Mool et al. (2001) there are 2,323 glacial lakes in Nepal covering 75 sq.km. occasionally,
a moraine dam is breached and a lake empties in a very short time, creating a GLOF,
causing localized damage to assets and local infrastructure and taking lives. Adaptation to
climate change has emerged as a challenge to achieving and sustaining the development
outcomes as mitigation is not taking place as needed (Eriksen 2011).

8. 3.2 Monsoon Rainfall
Monsoon normally starts from the second week of June (10 June) and retreats in the fourth
week of September (23 September). Monsoon is the wettest seasonand is the main source
of precipitation in Nepal. Monsoon season contributes on an average 79.8 percent of the
total annual precipitation of the country. Climate change impacts the amount of water in the
atmosphere and will increaseproducing violent downpours instead of steady showers when
it does rain. The high precipitation pocket areas in monsoon season are Kaski,
Sindhupalchok and Sankhuwasabha Districts. The driest regions – Mustang, Manang and
Dolpa receive less than 150 mm while the wettest region Kaski receives more than 4,500
mm of rainfall during the monsoon season Hydrology and meteorology department, kaski
). The pattern of rainfall is experienced unseasonably and violent. Excessive precipitation
can also degrade water quality, harming human health and ecosystems. Storm water
runoff, which often includes pollutants like heavy metals, pesticides, nitrogen, and
phosphorus, can end up in lakes, streams, and bays, damaging aquatic ecosystems and
lowering water quality for human uses.
3.3 Flooding and Impact on Agriculture and Life
Floods during the monsoon are a natural phenomenon in Nepal. 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 tarai when they overflow.
The river drainage density of 0.3 km/ km2 is an indication of how close the drainage
channels are (Shankar, 1985) and, in consequence, how susceptible they are to floods.
Flooding damages crops and property and often results in epidemics. The poor are the
most vulnerable to its effects. Along with regular monsoon floods, the country also has two
special types of floods: the glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and the bishyari. A bishyari
is a flood that occurs when a landslide which dams a river is breached by the reservoir of
water which forms upstream of it and it is unpredictable.
In 2013, avalanches killed 16 people in Mt. Everest that was associated with climate
change. In 2012, more than 60 people, three Ukrainian tourists among them, were killed in
the popular Mount Annapurna region in western Nepal. Not only mountains, the cities like
Pokhara, Chitwan are equally impacted by climate change. In 2012, Pokhara experienced
devastating floods originating from Glacier Lake Outburst Flood. While in Chitwan, People
are experiencing warmerdays than ever. 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 somepotential benefits. By the 2080s, net agricultural losses in Nepal
are estimated to be the equivalent per year of around 0.8% of current GDP. The productivity

9. of rice, the staple food of more than one third of the world’s population, declines 10% with
every 1⁰ C increase in temperature. (National Climate Assessment)
Incessant rainfall in the month of July in 2019, 29 people were killed and displaced 2,065
households in Central and Eastern part of the country. Recorded highest rainfall for 24 hrs
(11-12 July) was 311.9 mm at Simara, Bara, and 245 mm was recorded in Janakpur. The
communications systems are semi-functioning in the worst affected areas.The most
affected districts were Sarlahi, Mahottari and Rautahat.
Rural roads in some areas of the southern parts of Terai districts remain inaccessible, and
water logging and associated damages in some locations in the southern part of Saptari,
Rautahat and Mahottari continued to pose operational challenges.
According to the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOCO) as of 19 July 2019, 90
people died as a result of ongoing heavy Monsoon rains. The Nepal Ministry of Home
Affairs (MOHA) and Nepal Survey Department report that 11,839 were displaced. Within 7
days, 92 landslides and 83 floods had affected the country. (Govt. of Nepal, 19 Jul 2019)
Heavy rainfall on 11-12 July caused landslides and flooding in 32 Districts across Nepal.
Flooding was most severe in 11 Terai districts of Provinces 1 and 2. A large loss of life and
damages to assets, housing, water and sanitation infrastructure, food stocks, crop and
livestock all had a significant impact on food security in the region. An estimated 212,000
people’s food securitywas significantly affected as a result of the flooding, of which 101,600
people, or 17,400 households, were deemed to be the most in need of assistance. (Govt.
of Nepal, 23 Jul 2019)
Various highways and main roads closed due to floods and landslides triggered by heavy
rainfall. Rivers Bagmati (in Karmaiya Town) and Riukhola (in Bankatta Town) were reached
above danger level. (ECHO, 24 Jul 2019).As of 29 July, 115 people had been confirmed
dead (ECHO, 29 Jul 2019).Many households in flooded areas had lost food stock from the
winter harvest. Within the most affected communities of each district, losses were largest
in Siraha, Rautahat, Sarlahi and Mahottari, with 40-80% of households having lost upwards
of 75% of their food stock. (Govt. of Nepal, 30 Jul 2019)
Overall, the direct annual economic costs of climate change on water-induced disasters at
a national level were estimated to be an additional US$100–200 million/year or equivalent
to 0.6–1.1% of current GDP per year by mid-century in current prices.
3.4 Aridity and Drought
The obvious impacts of climate change on food production and food security at the local
level are likely to be compounded by other on-going processes. Farmers are finding drier
conditions difficult for crops such as corn and wheat, and once prime growing zones are

10. now threatened. Hill agriculture has been in decline over the past one-and-a-half decades
despite significant effort and resources invested by both the government and the donor
community, primarily because of the effects of Nepal's recently concluded armed conflict.
As production has declined, local populations have become increasingly dependent on
imported food and thus on the conditions of global markets. Nepal is experiencing various
natural disasters such as flash floods, hailstones, landslides, mass movement,soil erosion,
and avalanche, thereby affecting the agriculture systems. The level of vulnerability,
however, will be dependent on both socioeconomic and environmental factors. In Nepal,
approximately 85% of the population live in rural areas, and thus, concern has been
expressed by many researchers and organizations that climate change is undermining the
rural economy who typically depend on climate-sensitive natural resources.
3.5 Hydroelectricity
Jiri Khola is not the only hydropower project to be affected by climate change, developers
say. In 2009 the Jhimurk River in western Nepal, fell to a record low due to prolonged
drought. As a result, the 12 MW Jhimruk hydropower project couldn’t provide the energy it
was contracted to supply to the grid (the thirdpole.net). Jure landslide occurred in August
2014 brought down a whole mountain side and blocked the river. Landslides that hit the
entire Jure bazaar in Mankha of Sindhupalchok, killing an unknown number of people, went
on to block the course of the Sunkoshi River. The river blockage, on the other hand, has
imposed a threat of outburst, threatening thousands of people living downstream, and
inundated upstream. Nearly 10% of the nation’s hydro-power capacity, some 67 MW, was
severed by the landslide, submerging a 5 megawatt power plant and disconnection of the
power supply with 45 MW Bhotekosi hydropower and 10 megawatt Sunkosi hydropower
and washed out over 400 houses, killing over 200 people. Currently more than 8,000 MW
of hydropower projects are under construction or in the pipeline. (Pathak 2010)
However, experts now fear that Nepal’s billion dollar hydropower industry will be left highly
vulnerable if climate change is not taken into consideration. Climate change affects dry
season flows and reservoir storage recharge, and thus future electricity generation sectors
are potentially large but uncertain, varying by climate projection, river catchment and over
time. New safeguards are needed to protect existing and future projects on Himalayan
Rivers.
3.6 Endangered Animals of Nepal
Nepal is very vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Nepal’s wildlife is in massive
threats because of rising heat. Human-wildlife conflicts and habitat degradation are the two
major problems in our country. The climate projections indicate that more habitat

11. conversion and transition will occur in the Lowlands and mid-hills, increasing the level of
threat. Natural disasters due to climate change have some impacts like insecurity,
reproduction, food supply on these animals:
Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)
Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia)
Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus leucogaster)
Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica)
As climate change continues to impact the region, both people and nature will have to
struggle with declining pasture productivity, water insecurity and extreme weather. Many
forest mammals, including a high proportion of threatened forest species, depend on moist
forests and are likely to lose their habitat if the climate becomes drier. High alpine areas
are also likely to be significantly affected by climate change with resulting consequences
to high altitude species such as the Snow Leopard and its prey species. We must act
differently, faster and more decisively before it is too late and species are being lost forever.
3.7 Efforts to Control Hazards due to Climate Change and Adaptation to Climate
Change
Faced with a growing risk of weather and climate related disasters that can set back
economic and social development for years. It is needed to serve more elaborate societal
needs, minimize growing economic losses from natural hazards and help countries adapt
to climate change is increasing the importance of weather, climate and water information.
Weather, climate and water affect societies and economies through extreme events, such
as tropical cyclones,floods, high winds, storm surges and prolonged droughts, and through
high impact weather and climate events that affect demand for electricity and production
capacity, planting and harvesting dates, managing construction, transportation networks
and inventories, and human health. Addressing the problems of climate change Nepal also
prepared National Framework on Local Adaptation Plans for Action (LAPA) in 2011 to
implement prioritized adaptation actions at the local level and ensure integration of climate
change adaptation into local and national planning processes. In 2011, Nepal formulated
Climate Change Policy to streamline climate change initiatives in the country. and fostering
a low-carbon energy economy requires tackling problems simultaneously from legal,
economic and security perspectives. CIGI’s research brings new ideas and concrete
proposals for financing sustainable development, promoting conservation and growth in the
blue economy, implementing carbon pricing mechanisms, Arctic governance, and

12. incorporating human rights and engaging Indigenous peoples in climate strategy and
action.
The Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) is continuing its co-operation, which got off to an
excellent start, with the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology of Nepal (DHM) in a
new FNEP2 project. The goal of the project is to improve Nepalese meteorological
expertise and preparedness for natural disasters, which climate change is expected to
increase in the future. The three-year project is an ICI (Institutional Cooperation Instrument)
funded by the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. National Adaptation Program of Action
(NAPA). NAPA has identified 7 urgent and immediate adaptation thematic priorities for
Nepal. The activities outlined are mostly technology driven aimed at reducing the climatic
risk. The Government of Nepal is also approaching Least Developed Countries Fund and
bilateral funding to get support in implementing adaptation priorities related to agriculture,
natural resource management and disaster risk reduction. One of the projects it is aiming
at is to address the issue of glacier lake outburst Flood in Nepal and strengthening the
forecasting system. Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR): the project
memorandum of SPCR has mostly focused on risk reduction strategies and actions to
support adaptation in Nepal. Most of the interventions are focused on risk reduction
strategies through technological interventions.
3.8 Hariyo Ban
Funded by USAID and implemented by WWF, CARE, the Federation of Community
Forestry Users Nepal, and Nepal's National Trust for Nature Conservation, Hariyo Ban is
an ambitious and expansive partnership designed to reduce the adverse impacts of climate
change and threats to biodiversity. Similarly 61,244 people benefiting from economic
activities including skills training, agriculture, and green enterprises like beekeeping,
growing broom grass, and cardamom plantations. 201 community-based anti-poaching
units established and mobilized. 32,727 members of community natural resource
management groups engaged in biodiversity conservation .4 131.7 miles of electric fencing
erected to reduce human-wildlife conflict. 485 community learning and action centers
established or strengthened to increase participation. 18 key plant and animal species
benefiting from increased research, monitoring, and conservation efforts. 167,807 acres
restored through improved wetland and grassland management, and fencing to control
livestock. 7,136 acres of new forest plantations. Two payments for ecosystem services
projects implemented in the Phewa and Marshyangdi water catchments. Policy documents
on forest management and products, biodiversity, and climate mitigation supported by
Hariyo Ban. 147,375 people benefiting from alternative energy sources. This includes: 18,
929 improved cook stoves and 6, 143 biogas units are distributed. Access to banking, credit

13. and insurance products which spread risk before, during and after extreme events. In spite
of level based efforts, Nepal has to bear lots of risk of natural hazards due to climate change
The study, a collaboration between scientists from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
in Greenbelt, Maryland; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in
Washington; and Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, was based on satellite
estimates and modelled precipitation data to project how changing rainfall patterns have
high affect landslide frequency in the region. The possibility of glacial lake outburst is high
and the river basin system is adversely affected. It may happen that in the next 50, 60 or
70 years, the main river system turn into a seasonal river—flowing only during the torrential
rainy season—because all the glaciers will have disappeared. In this regard, Nepal has
been seeking the international agreement in different conferences but Nepal receives first-
ever climate change project grant from Green Climate Fund. The 24th board meeting of the
fund in Sango, South Korea has approved the first funding proposal of Nepal—one of the
most vulnerable countries to the impacts of the climate crisis. The meeting has given the
green signal to awarding a $39.3million grant to the project titled ‘Building Resilient Churia
Region in Nepal (BRCRN)(Mandala ).
Similarly, from the side of Nepal government, the Madhev Kumar led government had held
the cabinet meeting at Everest Base Camp in 2009 with the slogan of ‘Save the Himalayas’
(The Diplomat). The first National Climate Change Conference held at the scenic
Gufadanda in Malachi Municipality-9 in Sindhupalchowk district successfully concluded on
1 January 2020 by issuing the 10-point Sindupalchowk declaration paper. It aims to
institutionalize climate change-friendly plans and policies and promote climate change
adaptation and mitigation strategies at the national, provincial and local level (UNDP,
Nepal). Now, Nepal government is organizing its first ever global summit to be dedicated
to climate change issues. ‘Sagarmatha Sambad’will take place in April 2-4 2020 hosted by
Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The title of dialogue is ‘’Climate Change Mountain and
the Future of Humanity’ ’after attending the UN Climate Action Summit on 23 September
2019 boosted ambition and accelerated actions to implement the Paris Agreement on
Climate Change. The event saw 77 countries commit to lowering greenhouse gas
emissions to net zero by 2050. (WMO)
Suggestions and conclusion
Access to a range of economic and livelihood options. It will help locals in adapting to the
changing climate
Basic language and other skills necessaryto understand risks and shift livelihood strategies
as necessary.

14. Right to organize and to have access to voice concerns through diverse public, private and
civil society organizations.
Knowledge generation, planning and learning to the vulnerable group for strengthening the
country’s institutional capacities to access the funds.
Right utilization of international fund and follow up ongoing projects regarding climate
change vulnerability and its impacts
The social and scientific basis required to learn from experience, proactively identify
hazards, analyze risk and develop response strategies that are tailored to local conditions.
WWF Nepal has been working on a project proposal which will be based in the West Seti
area. Likewise, the UNDP Nepal is working on a project proposal to safeguard lives and
livelihoods against the project to protect lives and livelihoods against flood and glacial lake
outburst floods (GLOFs) targeting finance from the Green Climate Fund.
International Union for Conservation of Nature-Nepal is also developing a project proposal
for building ecosystem and communityresilience which is likely to be submittedfor approval
in coming March—the first one to go for approval among others in the pipeline, according
to Rai.
“What is important now is how we effectively utilize the money and use it for making the
community's climate resilient at the ground level. Learning from these ongoing projects will
help in securing other project funding.’’(Chhetri 2019).
Recommendations and Conclusion
Present and future impact of climate change upon life and economy of Nepal neither is
exactly measurable nowadays, nor can be predicted quantitatively with large accuracy.Yet,
it is sure that modified weather will influence hydrological cycles, glaciers’ down wasting,
floods and droughts patterns for the year to come, and food security in many ways. I here
proposed a short review of the recent state of the art concerning the direct impact of climate
on crop production, and subsequently on food security. Nepal is heavily vulnerable to
climate change for geographical, social, and economical reasons, including lack of own
resources, and energy, and the need for support from foreign donors. There is a need to
enhance the human capacity both at the technical and community level.
Existing institutions with expertise in climate and water resources monitoring should
develop training modules aimed at enhancing capacity among staff working in sectors
impinging on water resources and relevant sectors.
In recent years, Nepal has fallen into the list of countries that are facing the brunt of a
changing climate and its associated impacts despite doing little in the past or present to
amplify global warming. Nepal is one of the fourth most vulnerable countries in the world in
terms of climate change effects which are already evident in various sectors. Adaptation

15. plans need to be developed on the basis of a strong scientific foundation and reliable
evidence (Gov.2019).
Overall, the findings from the study suggest that precipitation and temperature will be
higher in the future. Specifically, temperature variables are expected to increase
continuously throughout the century. Annual precipitation might increase overall but vary
seasonally. Extremeclimatic events, especially related to temperature, are likely to be more
frequent and more severe. As stated, these changes would have a serious impact on
different sectors,such as water, energy, biodiversity, agriculture, and livelihoods. As a poor
and mountainous country, at the higher risk of climate change and induced disasters,
adaptation and mitigation, Nepal looks up to facilitation for the gradual change with support
from international communities can be the important entry points.
Acknowledgement
During the preparation of my assignment, I had to take the help and guidance of some
respected persons,like Ajay Thapa Phd , Associate Professor ,pokhara university, and
Rajendra Prasad Subedi ,lecturer at P.N. campus deserves my deepest gratitude. As the
completion of this assignment gave me much pleasure. I would also like to extend my
gratitude to all those who have directly and indirectly guided me for writing this assignment.
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