--- title: "Nepal least responsible but most affected" subject: "Technology, Environment and Society" chapter: 6 key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:nepal-least-responsible-cc" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/nepal-least-responsible-cc site: BCT Engineering --- # Nepal least responsible but most affected Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 6: Climate Change - Asked in: 2072 Kartik, 5 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/nepal-least-responsible-cc - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-6 ## Question "Nepal is one of the least responsible countries for global climate change but it is one of the most affected." Elaborate the statement. ## Short answer Nepal contributes only about 0.03% of global emissions due to low industrialization and reliance on hydropower, yet its fragile Himalayan geography, rapid glacier melt, erratic monsoon, and poverty make it extremely vulnerable to GLOFs, floods, landslides, and food insecurity. ## Answer Nepal contributes only a tiny share of global greenhouse gas emissions (about 0.03%, with per-person emissions far below the world average), yet it is ranked among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. This is a clear case of **climate injustice**. #### Why Nepal is least responsible - Low industrialisation; very little coal or heavy industry. - Electricity comes almost entirely from **hydropower**, a renewable source. - Per-capita energy use and vehicle ownership are low. - About 45% of land is under forest, which acts as a carbon sink (community forestry). - Historically, the CO₂ that is warming the world today was emitted mostly by industrialised countries since the Industrial Revolution. #### Why Nepal is most affected 1. **Fragile Himalayan geography:** young, steep mountains prone to landslides and erosion. 2. **Faster warming at altitude:** temperature in Nepal's mountains is rising faster than the global average. 3. **Glacier melt and GLOF risk:** glaciers are retreating; lakes like Tsho Rolpa and Imja are growing. 4. **Monsoon dependence:** about 80% of rainfall falls in the monsoon; erratic rain causes floods (e.g. Melamchi 2021) and droughts. 5. **Agriculture-based economy:** most people depend on rain-fed farming, so crop failure directly hits food security. 6. **Hydropower and water:** changes in river flow threaten the main energy source; springs are drying in the hills. 7. **Health and biodiversity:** dengue and malaria spreading to the hills; species moving upward. 8. **Low adaptive capacity:** poverty, weak infrastructure and limited finance and technology make recovery hard. Nepal has therefore raised the voice of mountain countries and LDCs at the UNFCCC, prepared NAPA (2010), LAPA and the National Adaptation Plan (2021), and seeks climate finance and loss-and-damage support while committing to net-zero emissions by 2045. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. The statement describes which concept? A. Climate justice already achieved B. Climate injustice: a country emitting little suffers the most C. Carbon trading D. Energy efficiency Answer: B. Nepal emits about 0.03% of global GHG yet is among the most vulnerable, a clear case of climate injustice. (Key point: Climate injustice) 2. Which fact explains why Nepal is least responsible? A. Heavy coal industry B. High vehicle ownership C. Electricity almost entirely from hydropower and about 45% forest cover acting as a carbon sink D. Highest per-capita energy use Answer: C. Low industrialisation, hydropower-based electricity and forests keep Nepal's emissions tiny. (Key point: Why least responsible) 3. How does monsoon dependence make Nepal vulnerable? A. About 80% of rainfall falls in the monsoon, so erratic rain causes floods and droughts hitting rain-fed farming B. Monsoon never occurs C. Monsoon reduces landslides D. Rain is evenly spread over the year Answer: A. Concentrated rainfall plus rain-fed agriculture means erratic monsoon directly affects food security. (Key point: Monsoon dependence) 4. What does low adaptive capacity mean for Nepal? A. Poverty, weak infrastructure and limited finance and technology make recovery hard B. Nepal can adapt easily C. Nepal has excess funds D. Nepal has no hazards Answer: A. Limited resources reduce ability to cope and recover from climate impacts. (Key point: Low adaptive capacity) ## Related in Technology, Environment and Society - [Climate change impacts in Nepal and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-impacts-nepal-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Climate change gases and symptoms in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-gases-symptoms-nepal) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Climate change and renewable energy](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-renewable-energy) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6 - [Climate change as threat to civilization](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-change-threat-civilization) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 3 - [Short note: Causes and impacts of climate change](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-change-causes-impacts) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6, asked 2× - [Short note: Climate change](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-change-note) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6, asked 2× ## Related in other subjects - [Biogas routes and climate change](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Abiogas-routes-climate-change) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 3 - [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 - [APA and MLA: newspaper article (Clinton on Climate Change)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Aapa-mla-harris-clinton-climate) — Communication English, chapter 4 - [Importance of hydrology in Nepal, global water balance](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fengineering_hydrology%3Ahydrology-importance-global-balance) — Engineering Hydrology, chapter 1