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Nepal Floods: Banks Ignored Glacial Risks
4 Sep
Summary
- Multilateral institutions and insurers may have ignored known glacial risks.
- Pollution from dust and soot accelerates Himalayan glacier melt.
- Cost-effective flood mitigation measures were overlooked by developers.
A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) in Nepal has triggered a health crisis, compounding the devastation. Multilateral institutions, including global banks and insurers, are criticized for allegedly downplaying known risks associated with Himalayan infrastructure projects. Despite repeated flood warnings in rivers like the Trishuli, developers and funders proceeded, endangering laborers and residents.
Scientists also highlight that pollution, particularly dust and soot, is accelerating Himalayan glacier melt. Dust particles reduce snow and ice reflectivity, causing faster absorption of sunlight. While black carbon has a greater darkening effect, the sheer volume of dust makes it a more significant contributor to melting.
Experts argue that while the initial glacier collapse might have been unavoidable, its impact could have been significantly mitigated. Simple, cost-effective solutions like gravity siphons, proposed years ago, were ignored due to their perceived simplicity and low cost, despite their potential to save lives and prevent future disasters.
