Kathmandu: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has advocated for global unity to address the climate-induced crisis and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Speaking at the final dissemination workshop of the research on ‘Assessing Households’ Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change in the Diverse Socio-Cultural and Geographical Landscape of South Asia’, organized by the Central Department of Geography, Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Bhandari emphasized the significant global challenge posed by climate change, affecting both the environment and human lives with extensive consequences.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Bhandari highlighted that while industrialized and developed nations bear primary responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions-the major catalyst of climate change-countries like Nepal remain among the most vulnerable to its adverse effects. She underscored the urgent need for mountain nations, including Nepal, and island countries, which face disproportionate impacts, to unite in adv
ocating for climate justice.
In the context of Nepal, climate-induced disasters such as floods, landslides, wildfires, and droughts have resulted in substantial loss of life and property over the years, with agriculture suffering severely. Bhandari noted that the adverse effects of climate change are increasingly visible across various sectors including socio-economic development, public health, biodiversity, water resources, tourism, energy, and infrastructure. Rising global temperatures have led to the melting of snow, transforming the region’s majestic mountains into barren landscapes.
Bhandari also pointed out that climate change has intensified poverty and social inequalities, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as poor farmers and marginalized communities. Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dr. Shivaraj Adhikari, echoed these sentiments, stating that the impacts of severe climate change have negatively affected Nepal’s Gross Domestic Production (GDP).
Vice Chancellor o
f Tribhuvan University, Prof Dr. Keshar Jung Baral, called for further research on climate change issues, citing the rise in temperature, monsoon-related disasters, migration, food insecurity, and other challenges as critical areas of concern. Additionally, Professor Dr. Prem Sagar Chapagain of the Central Department of Geography, TU, noted that research conducted by scholars from five universities across Nepal, India, China, and Bangladesh indicates an increase in foreign labor migration due to decreased agricultural production caused by climate change impacts.