Nepal Floods Intensified by Climate Change, Scientists Warn

A recent analysis by the World Weather Attribution (WWA) reveals that the catastrophic floods in Nepal were significantly intensified by human-caused climate change. The study highlights the critical need for improved urban planning and flood management to protect vulnerable populations.

On October 17, 2023, scientists from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) reported that the severe floods that struck Nepal in late September, claiming over 240 lives, were exacerbated by climate change, which intensified the rainfall by approximately 10 percent. This alarming conclusion underscores the critical impact of human-induced climate change on extreme weather phenomena and highlights the urgent need for Nepal to curtail development in flood-prone urban areas, particularly those near rivers. The floods emerged following three consecutive days of unprecedented rainfall beginning September 26, when climatic records were shattered in central and eastern Nepal; some meteorological stations recorded more than 320 mm of rain on September 28. The deluge not only resulted in tragic loss of life but also inflicted significant property damage across the nation. The WWA analysis emphasizes the necessity for enhanced flood management strategies, including improved early warning systems and urgent policies aimed at limiting construction in vulnerable regions. The severe flooding experienced throughout the Kathmandu Valley was unprecedented, with over 50 fatalities and extensive damage recorded. The researchers involved in the study, which included 20 academics from multiple universities and meteorological institutions in Nepal, India, Sweden, the United States, and the United Kingdom, called for immediate action to mitigate similar disasters in the future. According to Mariam Zachariah, a researcher at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College, London, “If the atmosphere wasn’t overloaded with fossil fuel emissions, these floods would have been less intense, less destructive, and less deadly.” Further analysis indicated that the Asian continent is particularly susceptible to the increasing frequency of intense rainfall events driven by climate change, as highlighted by significant flooding events that have occurred in countries such as India, China, Taiwan, the UAE, and Oman in 2024.

This recent report from WWA highlights the growing concern regarding the impact of climate change on weather patterns, particularly in Asia. Nepal, situated in a region vulnerable to varied climatic changes, has experienced extreme weather events increasingly linked to human activities, primarily fossil fuel emissions. The lethal floods resulting from intensified rainfall serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for proactive climate change mitigation and urban development policies.

In conclusion, the findings from the WWA analysis present a formidable warning regarding the ramifications of climate change on extreme weather events, particularly in South Asia. As climate conditions continue to worsen, countries like Nepal must prioritize the development of sustainable urban planning strategies and robust flood management practices to safeguard lives and property from future climate-induced disasters. Failure to address these issues could lead to increasingly devastating consequences in the future.

Original Source: theprint.in