Climate change in Nepal: why the country is so vulnerable and how we're helping people adapt

Why Nepal is so vulnerable to climate change?

Nepal’s mountainous terrain and proximity to glaciers make it acutely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, despite only contributing 0.02% of the world’s global gas emissions.

Glaciers are melting twice as fast as they were 25 years ago, and with temperatures soaring, it means Nepal is especially vulnerable to floods and extreme landslides. According to the UN Environment Programme, landslides are a steadily growing hazard in Nepal as fluctuating temperatures and rainfall – both consequences of the climate crisis – destabilise the mountainsides.

Quoting the most recent IPCC assessment of the global climate, the IFRC-Climate Centre Future Fit report published earlier this year says that in mountainous environments, there is high confidence that as climate change leads to more heatwaves, glacial retreat and melting permafrost, it will increase the risk of knock-on events like landslides and glacial lake outbursts.

The 2026 Nepal flash floods

Landslides and flooding are a climate change effect that the people of Nepal are already dealing with. On 26 August 2026, deadly flash floods struck the northern Rasuwa district killing, thousands and causing widespread damage.

It was caused by a glacial outburst flood from the Tibet Autonomous Region, which entered the Bhote Koshi River and caused a surge of water to flood communities including Timure, Rasuwagadhi and Syabrubesi. Over 1,000 people have been confirmed dead and many thousands more are missing. Understanding the exact events that led to this may take some time. However, we know that climate change is making disasters like this one more common, longer-lasting and more deadly around the globe.

• Find out more about the deadly floods in Nepal
• Help us respond to the deadly Nepal floods, donate now

How British Red Cross programmes are helping mitigate the impact of climate change

The British Red Cross has been working in Nepal for many years and more recently has been working on a programme of support to help communities in Nepal prepare, adapt and build their resilience in the face of climate threats. This includes using nature to reduce emissions and stop biodiversity loss, which contribute to catastrophic flooding.

Critically, we are also working to ensure that communities are prepared for a future where climate drives more crises. We’re helping to make systems that support clean water, public health and livelihoods more secure, so that when a crisis hits it doesn't hit as hard.

Nature-based solutions transforming lives in Nepal

In 2023, we visited Nepal to see how support from the British Red Cross is helping people adapt to the threat of climate change.

We spoke to Maina Dhuungana who lives in the foothills of the Himalayas, in Pokhara.

Maina knew she was living in an increasingly hazardous area, with landslides happening more frequently due to climate change. Through training with the Nepal Red Cross and implemented by local agricultural experts, Maina planted broom grass above her house in the landslide prone areas.

The grasses help to bind together the soil and stop landslides happening. These grasses also helped her family’s dire financial situation, “By weaving that broom grass, I was able to sell 300 bundles of brooms for Rs. 25,000.”

They also became excellent food for her goats “I didn't even need to go to the forest to bring the grass, which also saved me the time”. This simple, nature-based solution is now practised across villages in Pokhara to reduce landslides.

Dry temperatures are also increasing the risk of landslides in the area. 84-year-old Jayalal Baral spoke of how the change in rainfall has affected his life.

“There is a lot less rain now, causing the valley to become dry the majority of the year. We now say this land is like the Middle East, not Nepal, there used to be snow in the valley, now there isn’t.”

“The mountains used to be so clear and now they are often murky, with the view blocked due to the increase in dust.”

Jayalal has been adapting to the lack of rainfall with support from the British Red Cross’ cash assistance programme, which he used to plant broom grasses on the slopes around his home, mitigating the risk of landslides. He’s also used it to replace the vegetables that “used to grow in bunches” but “now only one” with vegetables and tomatoes that are better suited to hot weather.

Through British Red Cross support, Jayalal has been able to remain in his home and plans to stay there.

"I will have the logo of the Red Cross on my house until I die. I plan to live to 90 or 100 years, and if so I want to live independently and keep doing what I am doing.” 

Community action against flooding 

Just above the lakes in Pokhara, the community have used funds provided by the British Red Cross to create defences against the increase in flash flooding during monsoon season. Built into the hillside, a series of walls and drains ensure there are no longer dangerous and deadly floods through the streets.

The banks and roads surrounding this are steep, leading to flash flooding. 150 households are now protected from the flooding.

Dipa Jalari lives on the shores of a lake in Pokhara and fishes for a living. She said: “During the monsoon season it was difficult to sleep, during the night there was always the risk of the flash flooding, it was also impossible to walk on the roads.

“The weather changes very quickly, but people now don’t need to worry about flash flooding in the area.” 

Help us continue our climate work in Nepal  

The British Red Cross will continue our work with communities across Nepal to help them adapt to the threat of climate change.

You can support our long-term work with communities like Pokhara to become more resilient in the face of climate change, by donating monthly.  Donating each month allows us to invest more in long-term support.