Was Climate Change Behind Nepal’s Floods? Scientists Don’t Know Yet

Feature Image: Trishuli River, Nepal (for reference only; not taken during the August 2026 floods)

Just days ago, on August 26th, parts of Nepal witnessed horrifying flash floods as water and rocks came rushing down from the Himalayas.

The disaster took 700+ lives, and as of August 31st, more than 2,500 loved ones are still missing. Across the border in Tibet, authorities have also reported deaths and hundreds of people missing. 

The numbers are still changing as rescuers reach areas that were cut off by the disaster. We're thinking of the people who lost their lives, the families grieving them, and everyone still waiting for someone to come home.

So, what happened?

At first, there were reports that an earthquake might have triggered the disaster - that now appears not to be the case.

Scientists studying satellite images believe a huge section of glacier, ice and the rock beneath it broke away high on Langtang Lirung, crashing down the mountain and sending an enormous mass of debris into the river system. The movement was so powerful that it actually created the seismic signal that was initially mistaken for an earthquake.

So no, this was not just a very rainy day that got out of control. And yes, people are asking about climate change.

Scientists are not saying climate change definitely caused this particular collapse. Researchers are still studying exactly what happened, and several things may have contributed.

Climate Change May Be One of the Reasons

BBC has reported on Nepal's call for a "global effort" to address climate change after the devastating flash floods. Nepal's foreign minister said the country is among those being hit hardest by rising temperatures.

The New York Times headline reads, "Climate Change Raises Risk of Disasters Like Nepal Floods." It explains that rising temperatures are melting Himalayan glaciers and thawing frozen ground, which can make mountain slopes less stable.

Researchers at the University of Reading reached a similar conclusion, saying melting glaciers, and unusually warm temperatures may all have made the slope less stable.

But they are careful to say that the exact contribution of climate change to this disaster is still being worked out.

It has also been reported that Nepal's CO₂ emissions make up only around 0.04% to 0.1% of total global CO₂ emissions, far lower than those of high-income economies. But its mountains are warming, and the country is dealing with the consequences.

Climate change has always had this inequality, where the people contributing the least are often living closest to some of its biggest risks.

Right now, though, this is still a rescue story.

While we talk about glaciers and climate change, thousands of families are still waiting for news about their loved ones.

Rescue teams are trying to reach people believed to be trapped in flood-hit areas and are continuing to search for survivors.

Many people have been rescued, but the operation remains dangerous. Nepal has also issued warnings about possible fresh flooding, with authorities watching rising water levels and newly formed reservoirs upstream.

For now, the hope is that more people come home safely, that rescue teams can reach those still trapped, and that families waiting for news get answers.

How many more disasters will countries that contributed so little to climate change have to survive before the rest of the world treats climate vulnerability as everyone's problem?