Saturday, August 17, 2013

Communicating Climate Change in Nepal


The consequences of climate change will be devastating for a mountainous country like Nepal. Recent reports show Nepal's temperature will rise by up to 3 degrees Celsius in the next 40-90 years. The warming trends may result in heavy floods, landslides, forest fires, and soil erosion. Nepal will also suffer from droughts and Glacial Lake Outburst Flooding (GLOF), which is not only dangerous for those living in Nepal but will affect the livelihoods of people in South and East Asian regions who depend on Himalayan water.

There is an urgent need to prepare vulnerable communities so that they can adapt. A small village in Madan Pokhara in west Nepal understands the consequences of changing climate and is preparing resilience mechanisms that will reduce their vulnerability.