--- title: "Climate change impacts in Nepal and international efforts" subject: "Technology, Environment and Society" chapter: 6 key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:cc-impacts-nepal-international" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/cc-impacts-nepal-international site: BCT Engineering --- # Climate change impacts in Nepal and international efforts Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 6: Climate Change - Asked in: 2076 Chaitra, 8 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/cc-impacts-nepal-international - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-6 ## Question What are the impacts of climate change in Nepal? Explain briefly the international efforts towards mitigation of climate change impact. ## Short answer In Nepal, climate change causes glacier retreat, GLOF risk, erratic monsoon, water scarcity, reduced crop yields, and health threats like dengue. International mitigation efforts include the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement's NDCs and 1.5 °C goal, REDD+, and climate funds such as the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund. ## Answer Nepal is one of the countries **most vulnerable** to climate change, although its share of global greenhouse gas emissions is tiny (well under 0.1%). Its fragile mountains, dependence on rain-fed farming and poverty magnify the impacts. Studies by DHM show maximum temperature rising by about 0.05 °C per year, faster at higher altitudes. #### Impacts of climate change in Nepal 1. **Glacier retreat and GLOF risk** – Himalayan glaciers are shrinking; glacial lakes such as Imja, Tsho Rolpa and Thulagi are growing and could burst (glacial lake outburst flood), threatening villages and hydropower downstream. 2. **Erratic monsoon** – late onset, intense short rainfall, long dry spells; more floods in the Terai (e.g. 2017 floods) and landslides in the hills. 3. **Drying springs and water scarcity** in the mid-hills, increasing women's workload. 4. **Agriculture and food security** – lower yields of rice, wheat and maize due to drought, heat and new pests; shift of crops upwards (apples moving to higher altitude in Mustang). 5. **Health** – dengue, malaria and kala-azar spreading to hills (dengue outbreaks in Kathmandu, 2019 and 2022), heat stress in the Terai. 6. **Biodiversity** – tree line and species moving upward, invasive species spreading, wetlands drying. 7. **Hydropower** – changes in river flow and higher sediment load affect generation and damage turbines. 8. **Forest fires** – longer dry seasons cause more fires in spring. 9. **Tourism** – loss of snow and unstable trekking routes; disasters affect visitors. 10. **Livelihoods and migration** – poor and marginalised people lose income and migrate. #### International efforts towards mitigation of climate change 1. **IPCC (1988)** – provides scientific assessments. 2. **UNFCCC (1992)** – framework convention; annual COPs; common but differentiated responsibilities. 3. **Kyoto Protocol (1997)** – binding cuts for developed countries (about 5% below 1990 levels in 2008–2012); emissions trading and CDM (Nepal's biogas earned carbon credits). 4. **Paris Agreement (2015)** – all countries give NDCs; goal well below 2 °C, pursue 1.5 °C; climate finance; global stocktake. Nepal ratified it in 2016 and committed to net-zero by 2045. 5. **Montreal Protocol and Kigali Amendment** – phase-out of CFCs and phase-down of HFCs. 6. **REDD+** – payments for forest conservation; Nepal's Terai Arc programme is part of it. 7. **Finance mechanisms** – Green Climate Fund, GEF, Adaptation Fund, LDC Fund, and the new Loss and Damage Fund. 8. **Regional cooperation** – ICIMOD (based in Kathmandu) works on Hindu Kush Himalaya climate research. Nepal uses these platforms to demand finance and technology as a least-developed mountain country, through its NAPA (2010), LAPA, National Climate Change Policy (2019) and National Adaptation Plan (2021). ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Why is Nepal highly vulnerable to climate change even though its emissions are tiny? A. Because it has very high emissions per person B. Because it has heavy industry C. Because fragile mountains, rain-fed farming and poverty magnify the impacts D. Because it has no glaciers Answer: C. Nepal emits well under 0.1% of global GHG, but fragile geography, dependence on rain-fed agriculture and poverty make it vulnerable. (Key point: Nepal's vulnerability paradox) 2. What is a GLOF threat in Nepal? A. A glacial lake (e.g. Imja, Tsho Rolpa) bursting and flooding downstream villages and hydropower B. A forest fire in the Terai C. A drought in the mid-hills D. A landslide caused by earthquakes only Answer: A. Shrinking glaciers form growing lakes that can burst as glacial lake outburst floods, threatening downstream settlements and hydropower. (Key point: GLOF) 3. Which health impact of climate change in Nepal is described? A. Disappearance of all vector-borne diseases B. Dengue, malaria and kala-azar spreading to the hills C. Only heat stress in the mountains D. Reduction of respiratory disease Answer: B. Warming allows vector-borne diseases to spread to higher altitudes, e.g. dengue outbreaks in Kathmandu. (Key point: Health impact) 4. What was the key feature of the Kyoto Protocol (1997)? A. All countries submit voluntary NDCs B. It only phased out CFCs C. It created the IPCC D. Binding emission cuts for developed countries (about 5% below 1990 levels in 2008-2012), with CDM and emission trading Answer: D. Kyoto set binding targets for developed countries and introduced CDM and emissions trading; Nepal's biogas earned carbon credits. (Key point: Kyoto Protocol) ## Related in Technology, Environment and Society - [Climate change gases, mitigation and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-gases-international-efforts) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Human-induced climate change and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ahuman-induced-cc-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Short note: International efforts to mitigate climate change](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ainternational-efforts-note) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Climate change threat, impact and mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-threat-impact-mitigation) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 3 - [Climate change gases, impact and mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-gases-impact-mitigation) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Climate change: cause, impact and mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-cause-impact-mitigation) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 ## Related in other subjects - [Climate change and renewable mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-change-renewables-mitigation) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 4