By Roshani Adhikari Pathak, Candidate for IUCN Regional Councillor- South and East Asia from Nepal

Nepal has been increasingly applying nature-based cooling solutions to address the growing impacts of urban heatwaves. Studies on green and blue infrastructure, such as forests, parks, and ponds in the Kathmandu Valley, have documented their considerable cooling effects. Research shows that urban forests reduced temperatures by about 1.2°C, parks by 0.9°C, and ponds by 0.85°C with impacts extending up to 300 m away from the sources. For example, the Swoyambhu forest in Kathmandu is currently about 4.1°C cooler than its surroundings, while the Na Pukhu pond in Bhaktapur is about 3°C cooler than nearby areas.

Nepalgunj, one of the hottest cities in Nepal, has been adopting a strategy to cope with rising temperatures. These include increasing roadside greenery, expanding parks, and promoting green roofs (locally known as kaushi kheti). Such measures provide shading, enhance evapotranspiration, and contribute to improved indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Similarly, in the capital city, Kathmandu, urban green spaces have been developed along riparian corridors on the city’s edge as part of urban planning. These green spaces provide multiple benefits to urban infrastructure, including cooling, groundwater recharge, flood control, and cultural value. Traditional settlements also reflect these principles, with landscapes that harmoniously integrate trees, ponds, and courtyards, offering natural, passive cooling solutions to all.

Alongside these nature-based interventions, Nepal is also advancing much needed climate-sensitive architecture. Building designs are being redesigned to include shaded verandas and cross ventilation. Architects are also incorporating reflective surface areas to minimise heat absorption. Likewise, while thermally massive materials such as adobe, brick and stone are increasingly used to reduce heat gain, lower cooling demands, and improve energy efficiency. Furthermore, community forests and traditional land management practices play a crucial role in mitigating heat in peri-urban and rural areas. Together, these approaches underscore the necessity of integrating at a larger scale nature-based cooling into comprehensive urban planning across the Himalayas to build long-term climate resilience for people and nature, both.

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