TheWorld Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Report for Nepal underscores the urgency of building resilience to climate change and recommends policies and investments for integrated climate and development solutions for green, resilient, and inclusive development.
Nepal’s supply chains, farmers, and urban dwellers are already facing devastating climate impacts such as landslides, droughts, and flooding. Without concerted steps to shore up resilience, future climate hazards will threaten the country’s long-term development. Climate variability is already a major driver of food insecurity and poverty in Nepal, with increased flooding and heat stress seen in the southern regions, while the north experiences increased landslides, water stress, and glacial lake overflow. The report states that Nepal’s GDP could be at least 7 percent smaller by 2050 due to unchecked climate impacts.
As Nepal’s economy grows, it also needs to address its greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions. While the country is a negligible contributor to climate change – producing 0.1 percent of total global greenhouse gas emissions – the country’s emission rate is growing rapidly. Nepal also has one of the highest levels of air pollution in the world, with emissions from transport, biomass burning, and industrial activities significantly impacting health and productivity.
“With increased evidence of more severe climate change impacts, Nepal stands at a critical juncture to embark on a path for recovery and growth that is more sustainable, more inclusive, and more resilient to future shocks,” said World Bank Vice President for South Asia Martin Raiser. “The good news is that the country’s notable successes in community forestry and hydropower investments are a strong foundation for future climate-smart growth.”
Nepal has pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2045 and to significantly scale up hydropower investment in the coming decade. In 2021, Nepal adopted the Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development (GRID) approach as a national vision to guide long-term green growth and build resilience to climate and other shocks that are barriers to Nepal’s development ambitions. Under Nepal’s federal structure, the local governments are placed at the center of climate resilience and development efforts with extensive implementation responsibilities and play a crucial role in translating the GRID strategy into action.
To help Nepal achieve its development goals while implementing its climate commitments, the report proposes actions on two fronts: building resilience to climate impacts and pursuing public and private investments in low-carbon solutions, notably hydropower and its export. The report also highlights that women, indigenous people, and other marginalized groups are often excluded from mainstream development and suffer from cumulative and cascading impacts of climate change and disasters.
Based on the report’s modeling and analytical work, the World Bank Group recommends four priority transitions.
Taking an integrated approach to water, agriculture, and forests. Nepal’s agriculture and forestry sectors together comprise 24 percent of GDP and provide the main source of livelihoods for the poor. Agriculture will be hard hit by climate variability which strains forests, soil, water, and other natural assets in the rural landscape. To shore up resilience, the report recommends enhancing water resource management, including water storage investments; embracing climate-smart agriculture; and transitioning to sustainable forest management.
Harnessing the hydropower opportunity. Nepal has among the world’s largest hydropower potential, which can enable the decarbonization of the country and its higher-emitting neighbors. The report finds that an annual average of US$200 million of additional export revenues could be generated from 2022 to 2025. Hydropower development also offers the potential to grow climate-smart solutions such as electric mobility and green hydrogen. To prepare for this opportunity, more work is needed to assess climate impacts on future river flow, invest in supporting infrastructure to firm up exports, engage the private sector more systematically, and continue to work with regional partners.
Managing sustainable urbanization. Nepal is the fastest-urbanizing country in South Asia, and cities can benefit from the climate transition catalyzing new jobs, innovation, and improved service delivery to residents. To tap into these opportunities, the report recommends strategic urban planning to invest in municipal solid waste and water treatment infrastructure, green, resilient buildings, and low-carbon transport options such as e-mobility and mass transit.
Strengthening low-carbon resilient connectivity. Road transport is critical to Nepal’s economic development; disaster-related closures and damage lead to reduced access to jobs, healthcare, and education, and lower profitability for businesses. The report estimates that the costs of climate damages to the transport sector could be as much as US$250 million annually. To increase resilient connectivity, Nepal can shore up the most critical transport corridors and develop a climate-smart maintenance plan.
To support these transitions, Nepal needs to prioritize three key enablers: scale-up all types of finance for resilience and low-carbon development; strengthen household and community resilience through social protection and well-managed built and natural capital; and strengthen governance for climate change and disaster risk management through deeper federalization of responsibilities.
“Nepal’s transition to a prosperous low-carbon economy that is resilient to climate adversity will also require significant mobilization of private expertise and capital,” said Ruth Horowitz, IFC’s Regional Vice President for Asia and the Pacific. “The private sector already plays a crucial role in harnessing clean energy—and with targeted reforms, more private finance, including foreign direct investments, can be crowded in to sustainably green the entire economy while reducing fiscal pressure on public finance.”
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Water stress and hazards like withering droughts and devastating floods are hitting African communities, economies and ecosystems hard, according to a new report launched on Thursday by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The State of the Climate in Africa 2021 reveals that rainfall patterns are disrupted, glaciers are disappearing and key lakes are shrinking.
And rising water demand, combined with limited and unpredictable supplies, threatens to aggravate conflict and displacement.
“The worsening crisis and looming famine in the drought-stricken Horn of Africa shows how climate change can exacerbate water shocks, threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and destabiliizing communities, countries and entire regions,” said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.
The report shows how extreme weather and climate change are undermining human health and safety, food and water security, and socio-economic development.
While Africa accounts for only about two to three per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it suffers disproportionately from it.
With a special focus on water, The State of the Climate reveals that high water stress is estimated to affect about 250 million people on the continent and displace up to 700 million individuals by 2030.
Four out of five African countries are unlikely to have sustainably managed water resources by 2030.
“Africa’s climate has warmed more than the global average since pre-industrial time,” warned Mr. Taalas, noting that the sea level rise along African coastlines is faster than the global mean.
He observed that that this is contributing to increases in the frequency and severity of coastal flooding and erosion, and salinity in low-lying cities.
“Changes in continental water bodies have major impacts on the agriculture sector, ecosystems, biodiversity,” said the WMO chief.
Currently only 40 per cent of the African population has access to early warning systems against extreme weather and climate change impacts.
At the request of Secretary-General António Guterres, WMO is spearheading a campaign to ensure universal access to early warnings in the next five years.
Meanwhile, climate action is gaining momentum.
More than 40 African States have revised their national climate plans to make them more ambitious and add greater commitments to climate adaptation and mitigation.
The State of the Climate report makes a number of recommendations, including to strengthen early warning systems, increase transboundary cooperation, data exchange and knowledge sharing.
It underscores that the need for more investment in adaptation is crucial, as is a concerted drive towards more integrated water resource management.
The report was launched with an accompanying digital story map at a Ministerial Meeting on Integrated Early Warning and Early Action System initiative in Maputo, Mozambique.
Why is the Environmental Implementation Review important?
The Environmental Implementation Review (EIR) helps Member States put in place environmental policies that protect human health, preserve nature, and keep the air, water and soil clean.
EIR is a reporting tool that complements EU environmental legislation. The Commission promotes implementation of EU environmental rules through technical support, guidance, EU funding and, where appropriate, initiating infringement proceedings that can result in substantial fines. The Commission works with Member States to enable them to better apply environmental policies and rules, through the process of the EIR, which is a preventive tool. In this way, solutions can be found to ensure full compliance with EU environmental law.
The EIR is also useful for citizens and stakeholders. It raises public awareness about the importance of implementing environmental rules and main challenges. It also provides useful information to help those concerned take action to preserve human health and protect the environment throughout the EU by ensuring that competent authorities correctly apply the existing environmental rules.
How serious is the gap in implementation of environmental laws?
Overall, there is a good level of implementation of environmental and climate legislation throughout the EU, but to curb the negative impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, much more efforts to comply with commonly agreed rules are needed in each Member State.
On circular economy and waste management, there are big differences in circularity rates and resource productivity between Member States. Preventing and properly managing waste also remains a significant challenge. Respectively, 17 of 27 Member States need to adopt measures to increase the circular material use rate, and 20 are yet to adopt the national and/or regional waste management plans and waste prevention programmes. Excessive or non-compliant landfilling is still a big issue in the EU – 12 Member States are currently subject to infringement proceedings.
Biodiversity in the EU continues to decline. The great majority of Member States (25) need to complete the Natura 2000 site designation process, and defining the conservation objectives and measures to achieve the favourable conservation status of protected habitats and species. These are key instruments to protect our environment.
Air pollution continues to harm the health of Europeans, as limit values for dangerous substances (particulate matters and nitrogen dioxide) are still exceeded. Consequently, the Commission is currently handling infringement proceedings against 18 Member States. More efforts are needed in all 27 Member States to reverse or maintain downward emissions trends of air pollutants, and reduce adverse air pollution impacts on health and economy.
Progress towards achieving good status for water bodies is generally slow. Implementing rules for drinking water is still a cause for concern in a few countries. Wastewaters are not properly treated before being released into the environment in 19 Member States, which are also subject to enforcement action by the Commission.
Climate adaptation efforts in each country and at EU level need to be urgently intensified.
Infringements of EU environmental law account for the largest number of cases dealt with by the European Commission – about 20% of the total. We need to turn the tide and urgently address this gap. This is possible by addressing the specific recommendations in the EIR country reports and the root causes of poor implementation highlighted in the EIR Communication.
Properly and fully implementing EU environmental policy and laws protect human health, preserve a healthy environment and avoid related unnecessary economic costs (EUR 55 billion every year, according to a 2019 study). Bridging the gap between what is decided at EU level and what is actually implemented on the ground also preserves a level playing field for the businesses and creates opportunities for social and technological innovations and economic development.
How does the Commission support Member States to implement EU environmental laws?
The Commission supports Member States through technical and financial support. This includes:
TAIEX-EIR PEER 2 PEER tool: facilitates learning between environmental authorities and exchanges between Member States on implementation challenges. It provides tailored support to national authorities implementing environmental policy and legislation. Through the tool, expert missions, study visits and workshops will receive financial support from the Commission.
Funding for the environment: a guide that presents an overview of the available EU funding and financing opportunities. Financing environmental projects is essential for their success, and EU funds contribute to closing the investment gaps in Member States. The guide provides information on programme such as LIFE, the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action.
Technical Support Instrument: provides technical support to design and implement reforms in Member States. The support is demand-driven and is provided in a wide range of policy areas, including to help implement EU environmental law.
EIR expert group: comprising of Member States and stakeholders, the group meets twice a year to discuss progress on the EIR and on greening the European Semester.
In addition, the EIR country dialogues facilitate the communication between governments and administrations and other stakeholders, including civil society, based on the findings of the EIR. It is for national authorities to launch the dialogues. The Commission strongly encourages these exchanges to find solutions to the challenges identified in the EIR reports. The Commission has published guidelines on organising EIR dialogues.
International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, marked on 7 September, takes place in a world where almost all the air we breathe is polluted, and some seven million people die from air pollution every year. Ahead of the Day, UN News spoke to two experts about the scale of the problem, and the solutions that already exist.
For several years, the World Health Organization has warned that practically all the air we breathe is polluted, and that it’s killing around seven million people every year: about 90 per cent of those deaths take place in low and middle-income countries.
In 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution designating 7 September as the “International Day of Clean Air for blue skies”, and stressed the urgent need to raise public awareness at all levels, and to promote and facilitate actions to improve air quality.
Five years on, WHO scientists have concluded that the impact of air pollution kicks in at a much lower level than previously thought; is the international community taking the issue seriously? And, crucially, what can be done to tackle it?
To discuss the deadly issue, UN News spoke to two experts from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, a grouping that is hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP): Martina Otto, head of the Secretariat, and Nathan Borgford-Parnell, Coordinator of Science Affairs.
Martina Otto Air pollution has often been seen as a very local, national problem. There have been efforts by a lot of countries to bring down emissions, but definitely not at the level that is needed.
And since pollutants are travelling in the air, and often for long distances, we can’t solve this by isolated measures. It’s the air we share, and that means we also have to share the solutions.
UN News How has the situation evolved in recent years?
Nathan Borgford-Parnell Air quality has not improved dramatically over the last decade, and the World Health Organization (WHO), using a very rigorous multi-year process, put out new ambient air quality guidelines last year, which cut the level at which fine particulate matter affects health by half (from 10 microns to five microns).
UN News Low and middle-income countries are identified as being by far the worst affected regions of the world. Why is that?
Nathan Borgford-Parnell The populations there have particular vulnerabilities, linked to the technologies they use for cooking, for heating their homes, for transportation, and the kind of energy that is often used.
Also, there are factors related to the age of populations, and the very young and the very old are particularly vulnerable, often without means and access to healthcare. UN News How would you evaluate the amount of cooperation that’s taking place now compared to previous years?
Martina Otto We’ve just completed our third assessment of Africa, which brought the issue to the table of governments. We’ve used those regional assessments to discuss the issues, and there is appetite to start looking into that and we’ll see where it takes us. But we are hopeful to see much more regional cooperation.
It’s no longer a blame game. It’s about looking together at the solutions, which lie in cooperation. It’s a sustainable development issue: the very thing that keeps all of us alive breathing makes us sick as well.
UN News The right to a clean environment was adopted by the UN General Assembly in July. Why was this important?
Martina Otto Because air pollution is an issue that affects all of us, and disproportionately affects those that are most vulnerable, as Nathan explained.
There’s also an economic and gender issue to this. For example, air pollution might be bad in a certain city, but the level of pollution depends very much on neighbourhoods as well, where certain industries are located, where the wind is blowing.
We know that pollution is actually greater in poor neighbourhoods, so there is a real issue of environmental injustice.
UN News What concerns you most about the links between climate change and air pollution?
Nathan Borgford-Parnell What concerns me is that we may not get enough people to recognize that there is no separation between air pollution and climate change.
Wildfires are human driven, yet some people try to act as if they’re natural occurrences. But the precipitous increase in wildfires in recent years, and the modelling that says that we’re going to continue to see them increasing all over the world in places we couldn’t have ever imagined them, shows us that climate change will directly impact the burden of disease from air pollution caused by the wildfires.
And air pollution impacts the climate: there are no air pollutants that do not impact the climate. None. Greenhouse gases, aerosols, pollutants, they all impact the climate. The links between air pollution and climate change are legion and increasing.
However, the great benefit of the fact that these things are linked, and we can combine the climate and the air quality issues in the public health communities, and push them towards solutions that achieve benefits for all.
That is the empowering message of the Climate and Clean air Coalition, and why people have been so excited to be with us for the last decade.
UN News The Cop 27 UN climate conference is coming up in November. Will air pollution be an important part of the discussions there?
Martina Otto There will be a number of events around the issue. I think the the message is getting home, in the sense that people can already see the impacts.
We know what we need to do. There are many solutions out there that make economic sense and can get the job done. We just have to get them to scale, and put political will behind that.
For example, end the open burning of waste which allows methane to escape, and manage waste in a proper way, which is also good sense because there are economic opportunities in that process.
The issue of transport as well, how we design our cities to reduce the need for transport, and make it easier to walk and cycle safely, reducing the need for fossil fuel options by looking at alternative fuels.
There’s a long list of solutions, but they’re very concrete and they actually improve the way we live in our cities as well.
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