Climate Change Issues of Nepal: Challenges and Perspectives for Future Generations

摘要

Himalayan nation Nepal, a land locked country lies between China and India. Kathmandu, a historical and World heritage city is situated in central part of Nepal. Nepal is endowed with second position in water resources in the world, and comprises of more than 6,000 rivers and rivulets; however it faces serious water crunch and water pollution; deterioration of ecosystem and depletion of ground water table is also another issue which is to be seriously taken care of. The global rapid urbanisation in the past two centuries has been increasing pressure on the environment. Nepal is also in the more vulnerable situation in climate change activities. It will exert additional stress to the ecological and social systems. Twenty-four glacial lakes are forecasted to cause possible outburst of flood which is now a major concern for Nepal. In Nepal Climate changes have implications on reduction of snow pack on the mountains, water supply shortages, increase forest fires, increase in extreme weather, increase demand for irrigation, decreases power generation; wells dry up due to lower water table. Climate change seeks the two actions on the mitigation of greenhouse gases and adaptation to the climate change. This paper also describes the climate change issues of Nepal; similarly it deals with the potential threats of climate change to water supply, agriculture and food security, temperature increase, run-off patterns, glacial melt and floods.