In this special conversation, co-hosted by Covering Climate Now and the Disability Justice Project, we heard from panelists based in Nepal and a mountain geographer specializing in glacier hazards about the flash flooding that destroyed towns, killed hundreds, and left thousands of people missing — and the unmistakable impact that climate change, a threat multiplier, is playing in making this kind of environmental disaster even more likely.
Nepal is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate impacts and one of its least contributors, with a share of just 0.01% of total CO2 emissions — further highlighting that those who contributed the least to the climate crisis are often hurt the first and worst by its impacts.
Panelists
- Anita Bhetwal, Journalist, Nepal Investigative Multimedia Journalism Network (NIMJN)
- Alton C. Byers, Faculty Research Scientist, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), University of Colorado at Boulder
- Chhitup Lama, Founding Executive Director, Himalayan Education and Development (HEAD) Nepal
- Sikuma Rai, filmmaker, Disability Justice Project
- Jody Santos, Founding Executive Director & Editor-in-Chief, Disability Justice Project
Resources
- “Headlines on a Climate Deadline: International media falters in linking Nepal flood to climate crisis” (The Nepali Times, September 1, 2026)
- “How Will Nepal Pay for the Latest Climate Disaster?” (The Nation, September 1, 2026)
- Read Bill McKibben’s latest newsletter about the floods, “The growing rumble” (August 30, 2026)
- “Climate crisis could be destabilising mountain areas like Nepal, experts warn” (The Guardian, August 27, 2026)
- Explore Climate Central’s Climate Shift Index to see how daily temperatures in Nepal vary from historical averages
- Watch the Disability Justice Project documentary, “The Road to Til,” featuring Chhitup Lama
- Global Center for Journalism & Trauma
All CCNow live conversations are recorded and published on our YouTube channel.