Extreme heat threatens Nepal's economy as warming accelerates

In Nepal's far-western Mahendranagar, rickshaw puller Gopal Damai, 67, endures scorching afternoons where temperatures near 40 degrees Celsius. The intensifying heatwaves have forced him to limit his work to cooler mornings and evenings, drastically reducing his earnings. "Some days, I don't even earn Rs100," Damai told Kantipur Daily, resorting to buying vegetables on credit as the empty streets offer few customers.

Similar struggles are unfolding across the country. In Bardiya's Gulariya Municipality, Puja Bhujuwa, 37, sells roasted corn, her feet burning on the asphalt under the 40-degree heat. Persistent headaches plague her, yet she must continue to support her family. "Since June, the heat has intensified, people have stopped coming out during the day, and our sales have dropped sharply," she said in May.

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I only work in the morning and evening. I can't work during the day. Some days, I don't even earn Rs100. I have to buy vegetables on credit.

These personal accounts reflect a national crisis. Extreme heat is no longer a regional issue; it now impacts hill towns and cities, including the Kathmandu Valley. Millions of outdoor and daily wage workers face growing health risks and economic instability, often lacking access to shade, cooling, or sufficient drinking water. The World Bank's 2026 report, "A Livable Future," identifies Nepal as one of South Asia's fastest-warming nations, with temperatures already 1.26 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Projections indicate a further rise of 2.8 degrees Celsius by the century's end, particularly in the Himalayas and foothills, threatening to alter weather patterns and intensify heat across the Indo-Gangetic plains. Kathmandu, with its urban heat island effect, experiences temperatures up to 4 degrees Celsius higher than surrounding areas due to dense construction and reduced green spaces.

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Business was good until April. Since June, the heat has intensified, people have stopped coming out during the day, and our sales have dropped sharply.