Bronte Wells
Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia, with a diverse geographical terrain encompassing pristine mountain ranges and valleys. While these natural features lend a picturesque quality to the country, they also contribute to its high pollution levels. In 2019, Nepal was ranked as the 8th most polluted country worldwide, with Kathmandu, its cultural hub, experiencing unhealthy levels of smoke, haze, dust, and noxious fumes. The main causes of pollution in Nepal include open burn fires, vehicular emissions, construction site dust, and industrial effluents, exacerbated by its location between highly polluted neighbours, India and China.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution ranking | 8th most polluted country worldwide in 2019 |
| Air Quality Index (AQI) | Kathmandu exceeded 400 in April 2025 |
| PM2.5 reading | 48 μg/m³ as a yearly average over 2019 |
| Causes of pollution | Open burn fires, vehicular emissions, construction, industrial emissions, forest fires, brick kilns, use of wood, dung, and agricultural waste as fuel, lack of regulations |
| Effects of pollution | Reduced average life expectancy, cardiovascular and lung diseases, economic consequences, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss |
| Government initiatives | Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Development (GRID) approach, commitment to net zero emissions by 2045, increase in clean energy, adoption of cleaner technologies |
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Vehicular emissions
Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia, surrounded by China and India, the world's top contributors to air pollution. In 2019, Nepal was the 8th most polluted country globally, with Kathmandu, in particular, suffering from poor air quality. The main causes of pollution in Kathmandu are open burn fires, vehicular emissions, dust from construction sites, and geographical factors.
The types of vehicles on the road in Nepal also contribute to the problem. Many vehicles are aged and deteriorated, with outdated motors running on diesel fuels, which emit vast amounts of black soot and other toxic pollutants. The poor maintenance of these vehicles means they often do not meet the government's emission standards, and as such, they emit more pollutants. A study found that vehicular emissions were reduced after general servicing of vehicles (change of engine oil, oil filter, diesel filter, and air filter).
To combat the issue of vehicular emissions, the government imposed a ban in 2018 in the Kathmandu Valley on the operation of vehicles over 20 years old. However, this does not seem to have significantly improved air pollution levels, and the transition to cleaner Euro VI fuels is also not expected to make a notable difference. Environmentalists suggest that the Nepalese government should instead push to lower the import of petroleum products and encourage the use of electric vehicles.
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Open burning
A 2018 study in Pokhara, Nepal, found that while 90.6% of people used trash collection services to dispose of their domestic waste, 40.6% also treated their waste through open burning. Those who engaged in open burning were found to have a high level of concern about health risks associated with air pollution, and they also recognised the negative impact of open burning on air quality. However, this recognition did not always translate into behaviour change, as those who frequently refrained from actions that increased air pollution were also found to be significant predictors of frequent open waste burning.
The open burning of waste has severe consequences for air quality and the health of humans and ecosystems in the region. It has been estimated that open burning of MSW in the Kathmandu Valley resulted in approximately 7400 tons of waste being burned in 2016, which equates to about 20 tons per day. This exceeds the government's estimates by a factor of three. The emissions from open burning contribute to the already high levels of air pollution in Nepal, with the country ranking as the 8th most polluted country worldwide in 2019.
The geographical location of Nepal, surrounded by highly polluted countries such as India and China, also contributes to the accumulation of pollutants. The valley setting of Kathmandu further exacerbates the issue, as the city lacks the elevation and wind necessary to disperse pollutants effectively. As a result, pollutants from open burning, vehicular emissions, and construction sites accumulate, leading to dangerous levels of air pollution that negatively impact the health of residents.
To address the issue of open burning, improved waste-segregation practices and waste-collection systems are necessary. These measures will help mitigate the pollution source and reduce its detrimental effects on the environment and public health.
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Forest fires
Nepal, a landlocked country in South Asia, is home to a wide array of geographical terrain, including large amounts of pristine mountain ranges and valleys. While these areas lend themselves to creating a beautiful image of Nepal, they also contribute to the elevation of its already high pollution readings.
Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, is situated in a valley surrounded by mountain ranges. The city is undergoing rapid growth and development, which has led to a spike in pollution levels. The main causes of pollution in Kathmandu are open burn fires, vehicular emissions, dust from construction sites and damaged areas left over from earthquakes. The city's geographical location further compounds the problem, as it lacks the elevation and wind needed to disperse pollutants, leading to their accumulation and rise to dangerous levels.
The causes of forest fires in Nepal are multifaceted. Extended dry conditions, combined with windy weather, create favourable circumstances for the accumulation of dry fuel, increasing the risk of fires. Human actions, such as deliberate burning, discarded cigarette butts, and uncontrolled waste burning, are also major contributors. Locals sometimes set fires to forests to encourage new growth and clear debris, but due to a lack of proper training and equipment, these fires can quickly become uncontrollable. Poachers starting fires to trap and poach wild animals is another concerning cause.
The government of Nepal has implemented measures to address the issue of forest fires and pollution. They have included environmental quality in their plans and strategies and formulated national policies and legislation. However, community forest management is weakening due to declining interest and migration to cities, and confusing laws surrounding forest management have created challenges in maintaining and protecting these vital ecosystems.
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Industrialisation
Nepal, a landlocked country in South Asia, has been facing a pollution crisis. The country's rapid industrialisation has led to environmental issues in sectors like water, air, waste, energy, and forestry. Similar to its neighbouring countries, China and India, Nepal's pollution problems are exacerbated by its economic development.
Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, is undergoing rapid growth and urbanisation, which has resulted in a spike in pollution levels. The city's location in a valley surrounded by mountain ranges also contributes to the accumulation of pollutants. Kathmandu's geographical position prevents the dispersion of pollutants, leading to their dangerous buildup.
The main causes of pollution in Kathmandu include open burn fires, vehicular emissions, and construction site dust. The city's rapid development has resulted in an increase in outdated vehicles that emit high levels of pollutants, particularly black carbon, a product of incomplete fossil fuel combustion. Additionally, the lack of proper waste management infrastructure has led to open burning of organic materials and refuse, further contributing to air pollution.
The consequences of pollution in Nepal are dire, with chronic exposure to poor air quality increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases such as lung disease, heart disease, and cancer. Data from 2012 revealed a concerning rate of 9,944 deaths attributed to ambient air pollution in Nepal, with a higher death rate among females than males.
Nepal's government has recognised the importance of environmental quality and has included it in its plans and strategies since the 1990s. However, the country faces challenges in implementing effective pollution prevention measures due to limited financial resources and other factors.
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Population growth
Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia, surrounded by China and India, two of the world's biggest contributors to air pollution. In 2019, Nepal was the 8th most polluted country globally, with Kathmandu, its cultural hub and main economic zone, recording a PM2.5 reading of 48 μg/m³ as an annual average. This placed it in the ''unhealthy for sensitive groups' category, with some months seeing huge spikes in pollution levels, particularly January, which recorded an extremely high reading of 102.7 μg/m³.
The main causes of pollution in Kathmandu are open burn fires, vehicular emissions, dust from construction sites and damaged areas, and geographical factors. Kathmandu is situated in a valley surrounded by mountain ranges, which prevents the proper dispersal of pollutants. The city is undergoing rapid growth, and as with all rapid development, there is a spike in pollution levels. The earthquake in 2015 has also contributed to the pollution, with dust and fine particles being blown into the air from the ruined sites.
Nepal's population growth has been a significant factor in its economic challenges. From 1960 to 2024, the population of Nepal increased from 10.11 million to 29.65 million people, a growth of 193.4% in 64 years. The average age in Nepal has also risen, increasing by 5.58 years from 2012 to 2024, from 22.02 to 27.60 years. The country has a young population, with 42% of people under 15 years old in 1991, and this demographic trend contributes to the country's rapid population growth. The birth rate in 2023 was 19.3 per 1,000 people, resulting in approximately 575,000 births that year. The total fertility rate, or average number of children per woman, was 4.1 in 2001, and the government has set a goal of moving towards a two-child family norm to manage population growth.
Nepal's high population growth rate has outpaced agricultural production, leading to persistent poverty. With limited arable land, the share of cultivated land increased from 17% in 1974 to 30% in 1998, impacting environmentally sensitive areas. As a result, poverty rates have remained stagnant, with 42% of the population living in poverty according to surveys in 1984-1985 and 1995-1996. The government has implemented economic development plans and redistributed landless people to less densely populated areas, but these efforts have been hindered by political instability and the impact of natural disasters.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2019, Nepal was the 8th most polluted country worldwide. The average yearly PM2.5 reading was 48 μg/m³, which is considered 'unhealthy for sensitive groups'. Some months see huge spikes in pollution levels, subject to high levels of smoke, haze, dust, and other noxious fumes.
The main causes of pollution in Nepal are open burn fires, vehicular emissions, dust from construction sites and damaged areas left over from earthquakes. Other causes include deforestation, climate change, energy use, and species conservation.
Air pollution is a public health crisis in Nepal, reducing the average life expectancy by more than five years and causing significant cardiovascular and lung diseases. It also reduces productivity, degrades quality of life, and has tangible economic consequences, with negative welfare effects amounting to over six per cent of the national GDP.
In 2021, Nepal adopted the Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Development (GRID) approach, and is currently working on the GRID Strategic Action Plan, with air pollution as a top priority. The government has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2045 and increasing the share of clean energy in the country's energy demand to 15 per cent.
