Nepal’s clean energy curse It is the poor in harm’s way

The torrent, described as a climate-driven disaster, has turned roads into rivers and forced residents to seek refuge on higher ground. Immediate hardship is evident across the affected districts as emergency aid struggles to reach remote settlements. The timing aligns with Nepal’s aggressive rollout of renewable-energy projects, especially large-scale hydropower, pursued to meet climate goals.

Analysts argue that altered river flows and insufficient flood management have amplified vulnerability, turning what should be clean energy gains into a \"clean energy curse\" for low-income communities. The Hindu links the surge to broader climate shock events, while The Revelator notes that the Himalayas themselves are not the root of the crisis, shifting blame to policy choices. UnHerd’s commentary explicitly labels the situation a \"clean energy curse\".

Together, these pieces suggest that development strategies, without robust safeguards, may expose vulnerable populations to heightened risk. The pending question is whether Nepal will redesign its energy agenda to protect those most at risk.