Air pollution has emerged as the leading risk factor for death and disability in Nepal, with sector-specific interventions proving insufficient to tackle the escalating crisis, warns the World Bank in its latest report.
Titled “Towards Clean Air in Nepal: Benefits, Pollution Sources, and Solutions,” the report offers a comprehensive assessment of air pollution across Nepal and the broader Indo-Gangetic Plain and Himalayan Foothills (IGP-HF) airshed. It calls for integrated policy and investment strategies, urging the government to prioritize cost-effective, multi-sectoral solutions to improve air quality.
According to the report, the Kathmandu Valley and the Terai plains remain critical pollution hotspots, with no marked improvement over the past decade. The toll of poor air quality on public health is severe—reducing average life expectancy by 3.4 years and contributing to approximately 26,000 premature deaths annually. Beyond health, air pollution is eroding productivity in key sectors such as labor, tourism, and aviation. Economically, its impact is profound, costing the country more than 6 percent of its 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 Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, Minister for Forests and Environment. He emphasized government efforts, including stricter emission standards and promotion of electric mobility, as central to the clean air agenda.
David Sislen, World Bank Country Division Director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to Nepal’s air quality programs through financial, technical, and institutional support. “The World Bank continues to tap into its extensive global knowledge to ensure our support for Nepal’s clean air ambitions is both impactful and sustainable,” he said.
The report reinforces that effective air quality management requires coordinated action across sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture, and industry, and emphasizes that proactive measures today will secure both better health outcomes and economic resilience for Nepal’s future.
