A WWA analysis revealed that recent floods in Nepal, which resulted in over 240 deaths, were intensified by climate change, leading to rainfall that was 10 percent heavier. The report emphasizes the need for better land use policies and enhanced early warning systems to protect urban populations from such disasters in the future.
A recent analysis conducted by World Weather Attribution (WWA) has concluded that the intense rainfall responsible for the devastating floods in Nepal during late September 2023 was approximately 10 percent more intense due to human-induced climate change. This flooding, which resulted in the tragic loss of over 240 lives, particularly affected central and eastern Nepal as weather stations reported record rainfall of more than 320 millimeters within a short span of time. The researchers emphasized the urgent necessity for Nepal to curtail development in low-lying areas adjacent to rivers in urban environments to mitigate future flooding hazards and safeguard its population. Notably, Kathmandu, which is situated in a bowl-shaped valley surrounding the Bagmati River, has experienced rapid urbanization, exacerbating the impact of the recent floods. According to the WWA analysis, “Climate change was responsible for the extreme three-day downpours in Nepal about 10 percent more intense. Bursts of rainfall will become even heavier, risking more destructive floods until the world replaces fossil fuels with renewable sources of energy.” The report highlighted that without the significant emission of fossil fuels, the floods would have been less severe and deadly. The findings further underscore the heightened vulnerability of Asian countries to severe weather patterns, with similar climate change footprints observed in catastrophic flooding events in India, China, Taiwan, and other regions this year. Researchers contend that the increasing temperatures lead to an atmosphere capable of holding more moisture, thereby intensifying rainfall and the associated flood risks. In light of these findings, experts have called for improving early warning systems and proactive measures to prevent similar disasters in the future. The severity of the floods in Kathmandu, previously unseen, illustrates the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to weatherproof urban planning against the implications of climate change.
The analysis conducted by WWA sheds light on the significant role of human-induced climate change in exacerbating extreme weather events, specifically heavy rainfall leading to floods. The rapid urbanization of cities like Kathmandu, located in flood-prone areas, has increased vulnerability to such disasters. This report comes in the context of broader regional challenges in Asia, where climate variability has increasingly correlated with destructive weather patterns.
In summary, the devastating floods in Nepal were intensified by climate change, demonstrating the need for urgent action in urban planning and environmental management. Restricting development in vulnerable areas and enhancing warning systems are vital strategies to protect populations from future flooding events linked to climate change. The analysis serves as a critical reminder of the immediate threats climate change poses on extreme weather, particularly across vulnerable regions in Asia.
Original Source: theprint.in
