Climate change

Widespread floods and landslides triggered by relentless monsoon rains have killed at least 52 people in Nepal and 18 in India’s Darjeeling district.

Dhaka is warming faster than the rest of the country, and the consequences for public health, productivity, and well-being are growing.

But beyond the immediate destruction, most prominently over Dehradun on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, new reports and expert commentary point to deeper systemic failures – in climate monitoring, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure planning – that are making the Himalayan state increasingly vulnerable.

A new report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) warns that as demand for energy surges, regional cooperation will be crucial to meeting development and climate goals.

In 2024, India experienced extreme weather on 322 days, leading to over 3 400 deaths. The first 90 days of 2025 alone saw 87 days of intense weather events – including floods and heat waves – underscoring an alarming upward trend in disasters.

The new NDA will recommend and authorise projects under Article 6.4, including activities ranging from renewable energy and green hydrogen to green ammonia and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).

In a significant diplomatic shift prompted by mounting climate risk, Nepal and China have agreed to begin sharing critical cross-border intelligence on glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) that threaten lives and livelihoods in the fragile Himalayan region.

Small growers, who account for a significant share of India’s tea supply, saw their output drop from 78.34 million kilograms to 68.28 million kilograms over the same period.