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“Leaving No One Behind” or “forced to leave?”: a qualitative study of climate change impacts on rural communities along the Lower Great Himalayan Trail, Nepal
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DOI：10.1080/17565529.2026.2666877.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
The global Sustainable Development Goals slogan, “Leaving No One Behind,” emphasizes the development of least-developed countries, including Nepal, where multiple factors-particularly climate change-threaten rural livelihoods. In rural Nepal, communities are witnessing severe climate-related impacts on agriculture, forests, and disease patterns. They are employing diverse coping strategies that include migration. This article examines the effects of climate change on rural migrations in the Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali watersheds along the Lower Great Himalayan Trail in Nepal. Using narrative inquiry, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and observations within a post-humanist framework, we explore both the challenges climate change presents, and the ways communities actively negotiate and adapt to these challenges. Our findings show that rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and increased crop diseases have severely disrupted rural livelihoods, while communities exercise agency through migration and local adaptation practices. With limited government support for adaptation and mitigation, migration has become the primary coping strategy. This rural exodus poses significant challenges for Nepalese development planners and policymakers, as communities are depopulating and both urban and foreign employment are increasing. This research offers valuable insights for academics and policymakers to strengthen communities’ resilience, support locally grounded adaptation and prevent further migration from rural areas.
Keywords:
Climate change
injustice
climate mobility
Nepal
SDGs
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