As a Super El Niño system threatens global weather patterns, Nepal is hosting a national workshop titled "Super El Niño and Climate Risk: Implications for Water, Food, Energy, and Disaster Resilience in Nepal" on Friday, August 21.
Although Nepal has yet to feel the full severe impacts of this ongoing climate cycle, projections indicate the system will remain active from September through July 2027, increasing the likelihood of major regional climate disruptions.
National Level Initiative
To formulate adaptation strategies and draft a comprehensive national contingency plan, the Government of Nepal—led by the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS) and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), in collaboration with key partner organizations—is convening this national symposium. The event brings together key stakeholders to build a unified response framework.
Speaking at a pre-event press briefing, Dr. Kapil Gnawali, Senior Division Hydrologist at WECS, stated that the symposium was organized under the direct directive of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha. Dr. Gnawali noted that the initiative aims to formulate contingency plans covering agriculture, water resources, irrigation, food security, and energy security.
Tikaram Baral, Joint Secretary at WECS, and Dr. Anil Aryal, Executive Director of the Center for Research on Environment, Energy and Water, were also present at the press meet.
Scientific Context and Vulnerability
As a primary driver of global climate variability, El Niño significantly alters precipitation, temperature, river flows, and socioeconomic stability. Forecasts indicate the system could intensify between late 2026 and early 2027, potentially evolving into a "very strong" or "Super El Niño" state.
Positioned between the South Asian monsoon and the Himalayan cryosphere, Nepal faces heightened risk. Past strong El Niño events in the region have caused:
- Delayed monsoon onset and severe rainfall deficits
- Extended droughts, rising temperatures, and widespread forest fires
- Reduced river discharge, compromising hydropower generation
- Severe agricultural decline and elevated food insecurity risks
Organizers emphasize the urgent need to integrate real-time scientific data, seasonal forecasts, and early warning systems into policy planning for disaster risk reduction.
Workshop Objectives and Structure
The workshop will convene around 150 national and international experts, policymakers, researchers, and private sector leaders. Core objectives include:
- Knowledge Exchange: Reviewing past El Niño events and leveraging climate forecasts for better preparedness.
- Thematic Group Discussions: Developing preparedness measures across four key sectors:
- Water resources, irrigation, and drinking water
- Hydropower and energy security
- Agriculture and food security
- Early warning systems and disaster risk reduction.
- High-Level Policy Panel: A dedicated session titled "Building Nepal's Preparedness for Future Super El Niño Events" will outline necessary institutional and policy reforms.
Expected Outcomes
The event will establish the groundwork for sector-specific preparedness frameworks and produce a National Policy Brief on Super El Niño Preparedness.
According to WECS, because Super El Niño impacts cascade across multiple sectors simultaneously, a coordinated national effort is essential. The workshop serves as a critical step in bridging scientific research with action to safeguard the nation's climate resilience.
Because Nepal is situated between the South Asian monsoon system and the Himalayan cryosphere, it is particularly vulnerable to major climate events. Past strong El Niño events have triggered delayed monsoons, below-average rainfall, prolonged dry spells, rising temperatures, reduced river flows, severe droughts, and widespread forest fires. These conditions severely impact the Himalayan ecosystem, reduce hydropower generation, cause water shortages, and threaten agricultural production and food security.
Against this backdrop, organizers emphasized the urgency of identifying potential impacts of a Super El Niño event in Nepal early. Bridging the gap between scientific forecasts, seasonal data, early warning systems, and risk assessments is crucial for aligning climate science with effective policy, planning, risk reduction, and disaster response.
The primary objectives of the workshop are to:
- Enhance scientific understanding of Super El Niño dynamics.
- Review lessons learned from Nepal's previous El Niño experiences.
- Expand the application of seasonal forecasts and climate services.
- Assess sector-specific risks across water resources, the cryosphere, agriculture, and energy.
- Establish national priorities for policy formulation, future research, and institutional coordination.
Additionally, the event will initiate a roadmap for a national contingency and preparedness plan to mitigate climate risks.
Around 150 national and international experts, policymakers, researchers, practitioners, development partners, and private-sector representatives are expected to participate. Technical sessions and presentations will address critical topics, including climate risks in Nepal, water-cryosphere-energy security, agriculture and food security, disaster risk reduction, and early warning frameworks.
Complementing these sessions, a high-level panel discussion titled “Building Nepal's Preparedness for Future Super El Niño Events” will evaluate the policy, institutional, and sectoral frameworks Nepal must adopt to handle future climate anomalies.
According to the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat, a Super El Niño would simultaneously impact multiple interconnected sectors rather than isolated industries. Consequently, a unified, multisectoral national response is vital. The workshop will lay the foundation for sector-specific contingency frameworks and a National Policy Brief on Super El Niño Preparedness, helping convert climate science into actionable policy and real-world preparedness
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