Nepal's floods highlight urgent need for climate adaptation. Photo courtesy: AP NEWS
The recent floods in Nepal, which damaged hydropower dams and destroyed a vital bridge linking the country to China, underscore the susceptibility of infrastructure in the region to climate-related catastrophes. The disaster has not only claimed lives but also halted trade and economic activities, with an estimated annual trade value of $724 million between Nepal and China coming to a grinding halt.
Experts caution that the escalating frequency of extreme weather events due to human-induced climate change necessitates a novel approach to infrastructure planning and reconstruction. According to John Pomeroy, a hydrologist at the University of Saskatchewan, “The statistics of the past no longer apply to the future.” He emphasizes that the risk assessment for building infrastructure, typically based on historical data, is no longer reliable due to the increasing unpredictability and severity of future risks.
The imperative for climate-resilient infrastructure is pressing, with research indicating that extreme weather events have become more frequent in the region. Climate experts advocate for intelligent planning and rebuilding that encompasses multiple risk assessments, installation of early warning systems, and preparation of local communities for disasters. Pomeroy stresses the importance of avoiding the “insanity” of rebuilding in the same location where disasters have occurred and are likely to recur with greater probability and intensity.
The financial impact of disasters in the region is substantial, with estimates suggesting that $124 billion worth of Nepal’s infrastructure is vulnerable to climate-driven disasters. Experts argue that investing in resilience can yield significant long-term savings, emphasizing the need for a greater focus on adapting to global warming.
According to Ramesh Subramaniam, global director of programs and strategy at the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, investing a relatively modest amount in resilience now could prevent enormous losses in the future.
The international community is taking steps to address the issue, with the United Nations establishing a climate loss and damage fund and the World Bank and Asian Development Bank providing financial support for climate-resilient projects. However, more needs to be done to support vulnerable countries like Nepal in building resilience to climate-related disasters and mitigating the impacts of these events.
The recent floods have also had a profound psychological impact on local communities, with many people losing their livelihoods and struggling to recover. Kaami Tsering, a local government official, notes that even though the river has returned to its normal flow, the fear of future disasters lingers. “People will always worry that something like this could happen again,” he says, highlighting the need for sustainable rebuilding efforts that prioritize community safety and resilience.
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