Why Nepal’s climate data is key to securing compensation

Monsoon rains have once again brought widespread disaster to Nepal, disrupting critical infrastructure and threatening agricultural livelihoods. This week alone, five major highways are completely blocked, with numerous other road sections experiencing partial disruptions. The BP Highway, a vital link between eastern Nepal and the capital, is barely passable. Meanwhile, farmers in the Terai region face anxiety as the delayed arrival of rains has left the soil too hard for optimal planting, jeopardizing the next harvest.

A common thread across these recurring disasters is the absence of a robust data-tracking system. Climate scientists observing the clear shifts in rainfall patterns that led to recent floods emphasize the need for systematic evidence compilation. This is crucial because the available international climate funds for mitigation and adaptation are insufficient, and numerous countries with equally strong claims are vying for them. The Global Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, established to address irreversible climate impacts, has received pledges far below the dire need, with claims from 119 countries significantly exceeding the available $800 million.

Nepal's contribution to global emissions is minuscule compared to its neighbors, yet it bears a heavy burden from climate change. Melting glaciers, flooding rivers, and crop losses are direct consequences of a crisis largely manufactured elsewhere. The Loss and Damage fund is intended to bridge this asymmetry, but asserting Nepal's right to compensation requires compelling evidence. Natural disasters have inflicted nearly $7 billion in cumulative damage over four decades, with communities and families bearing the brunt. Inadequate government relief, such as the average $380 payment following the $52,000 average loss per household from the Melamchi flood, underscores a policy failure compounded by the lack of systematic records to substantiate climate-related losses.