Nepal is a landlocked country in the Himalayas, bordered by India to the south, east, and west, and by Tibet to the north. The country is largely mountainous, but includes a diverse range of landscapes such as plains, subalpine forests, and valleys. Nepal’s climate varies significantly by season and altitude, with large differences in temperature and precipitation between the relatively low-altitude south and the high-altitude northern regions. Climate change is expected to exacerbate the natural hazards Nepal already faces, placing additional pressure on sectors such as energy, agriculture, water resources, forestry, biodiversity, and public health (Government of Nepal, 2014).  

Nepal is already experiencing the effects of climate change, including species shifting to higher altitudes, glacier retreat, and more frequent extreme precipitation events (World Bank Group, 2021).  Average annual temperatures are projected to rise faster than the global average, particularly during winter months (ibid.).  Alongside increased risks of droughts and floods, Nepal faces growing threats from glacial lake outburst floods caused by glacier melt (ibid.).  Climate change is also exacerbating existing inequalities and contributing to increased incidence of vector- and water-borne diseases (World Bank Group, 2022).  In addition, the growing season for plants has lengthened at higher altitudes, and the Himalayan tree line is moving upward, indicating the gradual shrinking of the alpine ecosystem (World Bank Group, 2021).  

In 2010, Nepal developed the National Adaptation Program of Action. The plan outlines several adaptation measures to reduce vulnerability to climate change, including the development of drought-tolerant crops, expansion of non-conventional irrigation systems, and the establishment of a national disaster preparedness and management agency. Nepal also possesses significant hydropower potential, which may increase with accelerated glacial melt, although the risks of infrastructure damage and maintenance challenges are also expected to grow (World Bank Group, 2022).