A recent surge of catastrophic flooding events across Nepal has underscored the deeply entwined issues of climate change and urban development, particularly following the extreme downpours at the end of September 2024. Recent analyses have revealed how human-induced climate change has exacerbated the intensity of rainfall, leading to devastating floods. With over 240 lives lost, this natural disaster highlights the urgent need for Nepal to rethink its approaches to urban planning and climate resilience.
The alarming findings stem from the collaborative research initiative known as World Weather Attribution (WWA), which comprises scientists from various nations. Their recent report pinpointed climate change as being accountable for roughly 10 percent increased intensity of the torrential rains experienced during the catastrophic floods. This is significant when measuring the potential for human lives lost and the extensive damage to infrastructure.
On September 26, 2024, the region experienced three consecutive days of unprecedented rainfall, with some weather stations recording staggering amounts of over 320mm. This influx of water overwhelmed drainage systems and triggered landslides, leading to substantial loss of life and property. The report emphasized the need for improved early warning systems as well as guidance on urban development—especially the construction of properties on low-lying, flood-prone lands.
“Bursts of rainfall will become heavier, risking more destructive floods until the world commits to replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources of energy,” warned researchers from the WWA. This matter is pressing as urban areas like Kathmandu face intense risks due to rapid urbanization, bringing about increased exposure to such floods.
Urban planners and the government are being urged to reconsider existing structures throughout the Kathmandu Valley, where rapid development has surged by 386 percent from 1990 to 2020. This alarming escalation has primarily occurred on flood plains, meaning more lives and properties are now put at risk compared to earlier decades. Well-planned disaster risk management strategies are deemed indispensable to mitigate future devastation. Mariam Zachariah, one of the researchers involved, remarked, “If the atmosphere wasn’t overloaded with fossil fuel emissions, these floods would have been less intense, less destructive, and less deadly.”
Beyond acknowledging climate change’s impact, the study revealed other alarming truths: informal settlements located near riverbanks and low-income communities are often disproportionately affected by these disasters. Many residents live without access to adequate infrastructure, increasing their vulnerability during floods. Consequently, their limited resources for disaster preparedness highlight significant social inequalities.
It’s also important to acknowledge the mental and physical strain climate change brings, especially for women. Vulnerabilities extend well beyond structural damages; they encompass social dimensions of resilience. Many women living within these affected communities reported facing immense hardships, jammed between responsibilities of maintaining family sustenance and attending to health needs amid turbulent conditions.
Raised concerns about maternal wellbeing have drifted to the surface as well. A comprehensive study of sexual and reproductive health conducted by Ipas Nepal illustrated how adverse weather events brought on by climate change can curtail access to necessary healthcare services. The result has been increased instances of maternal health complications, possibly even leading to higher maternal and infant mortality rates.
Those residing near the Khutiya and Banganga River basins—communities already vulnerable to climatic disruptions—reported increasingly skewed seasonal changes. Ninety-three percent of women expressed worries over delayed monsoons and erratic rainfall patterns wreaking havoc on the agricultural calendar. The changing climate directly affects their crop yield, leading to food insecurity, placing the very fabric of their livelihoods at risk.
Not only does climate change directly affect agricultural practices; it has exacerbated gender-based violence incidents during and after disaster events. Women have shared accounts of conflict intensifying within families due to restricted resources as crises persist, pushing the vulnerability scales even higher.
Looking toward the future, experts contend adaptative plans must place women at the forefront of strategy development. Appropriate solutions should involve community voices to develop infrastructure resilient to both environmental alternations and social dynamics. Not only will this empower communities, it’ll also increase their preparedness to confront forthcoming climate challenges.
Nepal has become one of the most impacted nations on the globe due to climate change. The report from WWA and the collaborative findings signify the time for urgent action is now—not merely for the sake of survival but for the promise of multi-dimensional human resilience.
