Air pollution has become the number one risk factor for death and disability in Nepal, the World Bank warned in its latest report.
According to the report titled Towards Clean Air in Nepal: Benefits, Pollution Sources, and Solutions, single-sector solutions are not sufficient to meet any clean air target.
The report released on Tuesday urged stakeholders to optimize air quality actions across sectors prioritizing those with the most cost-effective solutions through public policy and investment.
Issuing a statement, the World Bank said that the report serves as a foundational assessment of air pollution in the country and the airshed of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Foothills (IGP-HF).
The Kathmandu Valley and the Terai are Nepal’s air pollution hotspots, with no significant improvement over the past decade, added the report.
“Air pollution reduces life expectancy by 3.4 years for the average Nepali and causes approximately 26,000 premature deaths annually. In addition to health, air pollution impacts labor productivity, tourism, and the aviation sector,” reads the report, adding, the economic cost of poor air quality is equivalent to more than 6 percent of Nepal's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) each year.
“Clean air and economic growth are not in conflict. In fact, the cost of inaction on pollution is far greater than the cost of taking bold steps today," said Minister for Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, while releasing the report. “From setting stricter industrial emission standards to promoting electric transport, the government is committed to cleaning Nepal’s air."
In order to curb pollution, the report suggested taking action on several fronts such as vehicle emissions, industrial emissions, household cooking, forest fires and trans-boundary pollution
“The World Bank is committed to helping Nepal strengthen its air quality improvement programs by leveraging financial and technical assistance and capacity-building support,” the statement quoted David Sislen, World Bank’s Country Division Director for the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, as saying.
“As a steadfast champion of clean air for better health and prosperity, the World Bank continues to tap into its extensive knowledge and experience from around the world to ensure that our efforts to support cleaner air in Nepal are impactful and sustainable.”
