Mitigating the impacts of air pollutants in Nepal and climate co-benefits: a scenario-based approach

Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) including black carbon (BC), methane (CH₄), and tropospheric ozone (O₃) are major climate forcers after carbon dioxide (CO₂). These SLCPs also have detrimental impacts on human health and agriculture. Studies show that the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region, which includes Nepal, has been experiencing the impacts of these pollutants in addition to greenhouse gases.

For this study, a national-level emission inventory for SLCPs, CO₂, and air pollutants for Nepal is derived and impacts from them under reference (REF) and mitigation policy (POL) scenarios are projected to 2100. The impacts on human health, agriculture, and climate were then estimated by applying the following:
(1) adjoint coefficients from the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS)-chemical transport model that quantify the sensitivity of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and surface O₃ concentrations in Nepal, and radiative forcing in four latitudinal bands, to emissions in 2 × 2.5° grids, and (2) concentration–response functions to estimate health and crop loss impacts in Nepal. With the mitigating measures undertaken, emission reductions of about 78% each of BC and CH₄ and 87% of PM_2.5 could be achieved in 2050 compared with the REF scenario. This would lead to an estimated avoidance of 29,000 lives lost and 1.7 million tonnes of crop loss while bringing an economic benefit in present value of 2.7 times more than the total cost incurred in its implementation during the whole period 2010–2050.

The results provide useful policy insights and pathways for evidence-based decision-making in the design and effective implementation of SLCP mitigation measures in Nepal.