06/01/2026
Nepal is one of the world's most vulnerable nations to climate change. Despite contributing minimally to global emissions, its people face devastating impacts: melting glaciers, floods, landslides, and a surge in diseases like dengue. Over 80% of Nepalis are at risk from these environmental threats, hitting marginalized groups like the Dalit, Indigenous Tharu, and Chepang communities hardest.
This National Academy of Medicine perspective highlights three key lessons for building healthier, more equitable futures:
1. Prioritize Global Population Health in the Climate Crisis тАУ Extreme weather worsens sanitation, disease transmission, and mental health, disproportionately affecting women, girls, and underserved populations.
2. Learn from Past Infectious Disease Outbreaks тАУ Climate change aggravates over half of human pathogens, as seen in Nepal's dengue epidemics (54,784 cases in 2022 alone). Building surveillance and hygiene is crucial.
3. Craft and Urgently Implement Climate and Health Policies Guided by Scientific Evidence тАУ Nepal's National Adaptation Plan (2021тАУ2050) shows how science-driven action, community leadership, and international cooperation can foster resilience.
Read the full paper: https://nam.edu/three-climate-and-health-lessons-from-nepal-ahead-of-cop28-text-vulnerability-study-team/