Nepal's Climate Adaptation & Resilience

Nepal committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 in its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted to the UNFCCC in 2020. This is among the most ambitious targets from a developing nation, particularly notable given Nepal contributes only ~0.025% of global GHG emissions yet is among the most climate-vulnerable countries. Key milestones include 15,000 MW of hydropower by 2035, 90% electric vehicles in public transport by 2030, and zero-carbon cooking by 2030.

A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) occurs when a glacial lake suddenly releases its water, causing catastrophic downstream flooding. Nepal has approximately 2,070 glacial lakes, of which 47 have been identified as potentially dangerous. As glaciers melt due to climate change, these lakes grow larger and less stable. Nepal's GLOF Early Warning Systems at Imja Lake (Solukhumbu), Thulagi (Manang), Tsho Rolpa (Dolakha) and Sabai Tsho (Taplejung) provide 30–60 minutes of warning to downstream populations.

Nepal's Community Forestry Programme - initiated in the 1970s and formalised by the Forest Act 1993 - is one of the world's most successful participatory conservation models. Before community management, Nepal's hills were experiencing rapid deforestation due to fuelwood demand and land pressure. After handing forests to 22,266 Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs), which now manage 1.84 million hectares, Nepal's hill forest cover recovered substantially. Independent satellite studies confirm measurable forest cover increases in the hills over recent decades.

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) is an international mechanism that pays developing countries for verified reductions in forest carbon emissions. Nepal's community forestry programme forms the backbone of its REDD+ strategy. In 2021, Nepal received its first results-based payment of USD 4.14 million from the Green Climate Fund for verified emissions reductions. Further payments are expected as Nepal's forest carbon accounting matures.

Nepal's 2030 targets under the NDC include: 15,000 MW hydropower capacity by 2035, 90% electric vehicles in public transport by 2030, zero-carbon energy for cooking by 2030 (replacing firewood and LPG), 45% forest cover of total land area by 2030, and a 25% reduction in solid waste open burning by 2025. These targets are conditional on international climate finance support.