From Ruins (River Cliff) to a Living Lab: What Nepal Must Take to COP31 Antalya
Summary
The Bhotekoshi flood has devastated communities across Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading, exposing Nepal’s mounting climate risks and the limits of current adaptation efforts. Ahead of COP31 in Antalya, the piece urges Nepal to push for stronger loss-and-damage finance while turning the affected corridor into a living lab for climate resilience.
Key Points
- A climate-induced ice-and-rock avalanche on 26 August caused major destruction along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli corridor, affecting about 15,000 households and damaging 13 hydropower projects.
- The article argues that Nepal’s losses highlight climate injustice, since the country contributed little to global emissions but faces severe damage and non-economic losses.
- Ahead of COP31 in Antalya, Nepal is urged to demand predictable, grant-based loss-and-damage finance and a faster funding mechanism from the FRLD.
- The author proposes transforming the affected area into a Bhotekoshi Living Lab and disaster museum to support research, learning, livelihoods and community recovery.
