Nepal is seeing an increase in temperature extremes, more intense rainfall and increased unpredictability in weather patterns, including drier winters and delays in the summer monsoons. The changes, partly due to the impact of melting Himalayan glaciers, could also be felt well beyond Nepal’s borders.

Some of the heaviest burdens have fallen on women who are on the frontline of climate change. They have to travel further to fetch water and take on the responsibility for feeding the family as men in many poor households migrate seasonally to seek work.

Nepal is one of the world’s poorest nations, with 31% of its 28 million-population living below the poverty line. It has one of the lowest emissions records in the world – just 0.025% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

Oxfam believes more work needs to be done in Nepal by the government and international organisations to create greater awareness about climate change and its likely impacts, to prioritise and institutionalise actions at national level; and help communities to play a greater role themselves in initiatives to reduce their vulnerability.

CONTENTS

1. Executive Summary
2. Climate Change and Nepal
3. The Climate and Topography of Nepal
4. Climate Change is already happening
5. There is More Climate Change to Come
6. What Are the Likely Climate Change Impacts?
7. Who Are the Most Vulnerable to Climate Change?
8. “Even the Himalayas have stopped smiling” Nepalis speak about Climate Change
9. Climate Changes Observed
10. How people are adapting and what they need in future
11. Government Actions on Climate Change
12. Other non-governmental initiatives
13. Conclusions
14. Recommendations
15. Short Term Actions
16. Long Term Actions
17. Appendices