The pace of glacial melting has accelerated globally due to climate change. In Nepal, this has become an even more alarming concern. Every recent study has shown an increase in glacier melting in the Himalayan region. The risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), avalanches and flash floods are also rising. Such incidents in high-altitude regions have been affecting both major development infrastructure and the day to day lives of people in downstream areas. This is having a profound impact on the overall ecosystem, water security, and human life — and the challenge is only growing. A report published recently by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and UNDP states that 47 glacial lakes located across Nepal, India, and China are at risk of outburst. Among them, 25 are in China, 21 in Nepal and one in India. The report calls for preparedness and adaptation programs to mitigate the potential damage of future glacial lake outbursts. Amidst this challenge, a piece of good news has come for Nepal. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) announced a grant equivalent to five billion rupees to Nepal to help prevent the bursting of four glacial lakes and to protect communities from possible damages in case of such outbursts. The GCF’s 42nd Board Meeting held in Papua New Guinea approved this support. Including the GCF’s contribution and co-financing from the Government of Nepal, UNDP, and the Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN), the total project value will be around seven billion rupees. The project will be implemented through UNDP, an accredited entity of the GCF.
This funding will be a significant and large-scale project aimed at addressing climate-induced challenges in the Himalayan region. It is encouraging that the project will focus on reducing physical damages from glacial lake outbursts, protecting lives, and safeguarding downstream communities from climate-induced floods. That Nepal secured this major project just as the United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Glacier Preservation is especially timely and significant. Credit goes to UNDP Nepal, the Ministry of Forests and Environment, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, and all other institutions involved in preparing this project. The project aims to safeguard 2.3 million people living in the Koshi and Gandaki river basins through glacial lake outburst risk mitigation and related interventions. Notably, a few years ago, Nepal successfully reduced the outburst risk of the high-risk Imja glacial lake in Solukhumbu. By lowering the water level of Imja Lake by 3.4 meters through a controlled outlet, Nepal averted a potentially catastrophic disaster in one of the most vulnerable Himalayan regions.
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Building on the successful experience of Imja, the development of this new project is scientifically sound. The project’s plan to reduce water levels in four more high-risk glacial lakes and expand early warning systems for seasonal and climate-related activities in those areas should be viewed positively. Likewise, nature-based solutions — such as planting trees over more than 150 hectares to stabilize riverbanks, improving disaster preparedness, and enhancing climate adaptation capacity — are equally relevant. Now that Nepal has secured this project, the priority should be to ensure its timely and effective implementation. Given that the implementation of some existing GCF-funded projects in Nepal has been slow, a similar pace for this new project would turn current optimism into short-lived joy. For a highly climate-vulnerable country like Nepal, climate finance is not just important — it is essential. Therefore, the significance of this project is not only immediate but also long-term. Its successful implementation will demonstrate Nepal’s capacity to execute climate-related projects in its high Himalayan regions. The world will now be watching this project closely. Nepal must not miss this opportunity to showcase its capabilities in executing globally significant climate initiatives.
