Kathmandu, June 17 (EFE).- Air pollution has become the leading risk factor for death and disability in Nepal, surpassing malnutrition and tobacco, according to a new World Bank report.
Released on Tuesday, the report, “Towards Clean Air in Nepal: Benefits, Pollution Sources, and Solutions,” estimates that air pollution shortens the average Nepali’s life expectancy by 3.4 years and causes around 26,000 premature deaths annually.
The health consequences are wide-ranging and severe.
Pollution is linked to 75 percent of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease cases, 46 percent of strokes, 44 percent of ischemic heart disease, 41 percent of lower respiratory infections, 38 percent of lung cancer cases, 30 percent of neonatal complications such as low birth weight and pre-term births, and 20 percent of diabetes cases.
Beyond its health effects, air pollution is also a significant economic burden.
It reduces labor productivity due to illness and impaired cognitive function while hurting tourism and the aviation sector. The total economic cost is estimated to exceed 6 percent of Nepal’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually.
Despite years of concern, air quality in major hotspots, particularly the Kathmandu Valley and the southern plains of the Terai, has seen little to no improvement over the past decade.
“Clean air and economic growth are not in conflict. The cost of inaction is far higher than that of bold intervention,” Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, Minister for Forests and Environment, said in a statement.
“From enforcing stricter industrial emission norms to advancing electric mobility, the government is committed to tackling this crisis,” he added.
The World Bank study identifies five primary sources of pollution, including vehicle emissions, industrial activity, household cooking, forest fires, and transboundary pollution, where airborne particles cross borders through regional airflows.
At the report launch event, David Sislen, the World Bank’s Country Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, reaffirmed the institution’s support for Nepal’s clean air agenda.
“The World Bank is committed to helping Nepal strengthen its air quality programmes with financial support, technical expertise, and capacity-building,” Sislen said.
“We draw on global experience to ensure that our efforts to support cleaner air in Nepal are effective and sustainable,” he added. EFE
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