Fiscal Nepal
First Business News Portal in English from Nepal
KATHMANDU: Air pollution has emerged as the leading cause of death and disability in Nepal, reducing average life expectancy by 3.4 years and causing approximately 26,000 premature deaths annually, according to a new World Bank report, “Towards Clean Air in Nepal: Benefits, Pollution Sources, and Solutions.” The report highlights the Kathmandu Valley and Terai as pollution hotspots, with no significant improvement over the past decade, costing the economy over 6% of GDP yearly due to impacts on health, labor productivity, tourism, and aviation.
The World Bank urges a multi-sector approach, noting that single-sector efforts are insufficient. Environment Minister Hon. Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri emphasized, “Clean air and economic growth are not in conflict. The cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of bold action today.”
Proposed solutions include electrifying vehicle fleets, enhancing vehicle inspection systems, adopting cleaner industrial technologies, promoting electric cookstoves to replace biomass-fueled ones, preventing forest fires, and addressing transboundary pollution through regional cooperation, given Nepal’s shared airshed with the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Foothills.
David Sislen, World Bank Country Division Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, added, “The World Bank is committed to supporting Nepal with financial, technical, and capacity-building assistance to ensure sustainable air quality improvements.” The report underscores the urgency of coordinated action to mitigate this critical public health and economic challenge.
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