Kathmandu: Air pollution is the leading risk factor for death and disability in Nepal.
According to World Bank, a new report highlights that single-sector solutions are insufficient to meet any clean air target. Public policy and investment must optimize air quality actions across sectors, focusing on cost-effective solutions.
The report, titled “Towards Clean Air in Nepal: Benefits, Pollution Sources, and Solutions,” provides a foundational assessment of air pollution in the country and the airshed of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Foothills. The Kathmandu Valley and the Terai are identified as Nepal’s air pollution hotspots, with no significant improvement over the past decade. Air pollution reduces life expectancy by 3.4 years for the average Nepali and causes approximately 26,000 premature deaths annually. Beyond health, air pollution affects labor productivity, tourism, and the aviation sector, costing more than 6 percent of Nepal’s Gross Domestic Product each year.
Support for cleaner technology and fuel adoption in industries, including electric and pellet boilers and furnaces in small and medium enterprises, is essential for promoting cleaner industries. Industrial facilities such as brick and cement factories require support to burn cleaner and more efficient fuels. Encouraging households to adopt cleaner, preferably electric, cookstoves is crucial for reducing household air pollution sources, as biomass-fueled stoves contribute to indoor and ambient air pollution.
Forest fire prevention, by reducing the fuel load and developing effective awareness programs, is critical for minimizing the likelihood of such fires. Effective response systems are also needed to extinguish fires. Partnering effectively with neighboring countries to tackle transboundary pollution is vital, as airflows carry pollutants across borders, affecting air quality in multiple countries. Nepal’s unique geographical location, particularly the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley surrounded by mountains, worsens the problem.
David Sislen, World Bank Country Division Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, stated that the World Bank is committed to helping Nepal enhance its air quality improvement programs by leveraging financial and technical assistance and capacity-building support. As a dedicated advocate for clean air to improve health and prosperity, the World Bank continues to utilize its extensive global knowledge and experience to ensure that efforts to support cleaner air in Nepal are impactful and sustainable.