Climate Change and Human Mobility in Nepal

Abstract

Nepal stands on the cusp of constant natural disasters and is directly affected by climate change considering its vulnerable topography and location. On the northern front, it has the mighty Himalayas witnessing melting glaciers, unpredicted weather conditions, rise in temperatures, loss of snow-capped mountains and loss of flora and fauna, and in the south, it faces annual droughts and floods. It results in panic for humankind to move from one place to another in search of livelihood, survival and help. Such displacements in a country like Nepal double amidst helplessness to cope with the inadequacies of limited institutional capacity, low-level income and limited irrigation facilities, despite the abundance of hydrological resources. The large proportions of marginal farmers with small landholdings depend on natural resources, increasing the degree of climate change vulnerabilities. The occurrence of earthquakes once every century has caused human mobility to the extent that many have lost their lives and livelihood. In this context, the proposed paper intends to study the causes and consequences of the trauma of internal displacement of local inhabitants of Nepal and their plight for safe passage so that they will be relocated, rehabilitated and resettled properly. The chapter also looks into the role of the state agencies and non-state actors involved in the process of climate change adaptation. The chapter critically evaluates the various policies adopted by the Government of Nepal and discusses the responses from local people, political parties and the neighbouring states. In addition, the chapter deals with the limitations and constraints in protecting them while evaluating the human rights violations of victims of climate change in Nepal.