| Issue/Objective |
Nepal, a low-income, Himalayan, and climate-vulnerable country, faces rising health threats from extreme weather events and climate-sensitive infectious diseases, such as dengue and waterborne illnesses. Its fragile mountainous ecosystems, rapid glacial melt, and frequent disasters - including landslides, avalanches, and glacial lake outburst floods - intensify health challenges for its diverse populations. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, Nepal disproportionately suffers from climate-induced disasters, escalating health disparities, and weakened infrastructure. This study examines Nepal's climate-health crisis, highlighting actionable strategies to enhance global health security and resilience, especially for marginalized and high-altitude communities. |
| Methodology/Approach |
A comprehensive analysis of Nepal's climate-health landscape was conducted, synthesizing data from government reports, WHO publications, and peer-reviewed studies from 2010 to 2024. The approach assessed climate-driven disease patterns, community vulnerability, and national adaptation strategies, emphasizing Indigenous knowledge and equity-centered resilience efforts. Case studies on the Chepang and Tharu Indigenous groups, alongside dengue outbreak response data, provided insights into systemic barriers and local adaptation initiatives. |
| Results |
Findings indicate a significant rise in climate-exacerbated diseases, with dengue cases surging from 17,992 in 2020 to 54,784 in 2024 across all 77 districts. Vulnerable Indigenous communities faced heightened exposure due to poor infrastructure, unsafe housing, and limited healthcare access - 90% of Chepang people live below the poverty line, relying on subsistence agriculture severely impacted by floods and droughts. Nepal's National Adaptation Plan (2021-2050) and community health worker networks demonstrated progress in localized climate-health interventions, but gaps remain in scaling equitable health services. |
| Discussion/Conclusion |
Nepal's experience highlights the urgent need for climate resilience integration into health systems worldwide. Two key recommendations emerge: (1) Strengthen climate-informed health infrastructure and early warning systems in vulnerable regions to preemptively manage outbreaks and health service disruptions; (2) Embed equity and Indigenous knowledge into climate-health policies, prioritizing marginalized communities' needs to reduce health disparities. Nepal's resilience model offers a blueprint for global health security - one that navigates the path forward through climate justice, health equity, and community-led solutions. |
| Presenters and affiliations |
Tara Chouhan National Association of Student Living With Hiv Aids in Nepal |
