22. Climate-Change Refugees in Nepal: The Need for Climate-Smart Capacity Building

The Himalayan region of Nepal is relatively vulnerable to climate change. This is the first recognised case of climate change refugees in Nepal, affecting the village of Dhe in Upper Mustang in the western Himalayan region of Nepal. A total of 23 households are being relocated due to the adverse impact of climate change on the livelihoods of the people in the village. A feasibility study for possible resettlement with a water supply is underway. The new settlement would be the first model village for climate refugees. It would be solar-powered, have plenty of greenery and appropriate land allocation for public use, such as parks and a market. Dhe has been facing an acute shortage of water for drinking and irrigation over the last 6–7 years. There is hardly any greenery to be seen around the village. This chapter will examine possible alternatives for keeping people in the same location to which they have a sentimental attachment and have adapted in many other ways. Solar energy for pumping water from nearby sources, collection of rainwater from roofs for drinking (which provides about 5–10 L per person per day), collection of rainwater in ponds for irrigation, use of drip irrigation, and an EcoSan latrine can all be promoted. This chapter examines new thinking on preventing climate change refugees and enabling them to stay where they are with dignity and a more adaptive capacity using climate-smart technologies, and suggests how governments can invest in these areas, which contribute little to climate change but are more vulnerable to its adverse effects.