Nepal’s billion-dollar smog

Despite the escalating costs, Nepal’s approach to air pollution remains underpowered.

My fondest memories of growing up in Kathmandu in the 1980s are riding trolley buses, the cool shade of eucalyptus-lined streets, clear mountain views in the Northern skyline and a city that bathed in pristine air. However, in recent years , Kathmandu has topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities. This April, a toxic mix of forest fires, delayed monsoon rains, emissions from aging diesel vehicles and unchecked construction dust drove PM2.5 level soaring to over 200 micrograms per cubic metre—more than 40 times the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) safe limit.