Undermined public commons leave communities alone in climate crisis

Case I

Bhago Devi Sadaya, 40, is one of the many women in Jhutki village, Lahan Municipality-24, Siraha, whose life revolves around the daily struggle of fetching water. In her village of 33 households, there is only one hand pump, which often dries up during the summer months. “The extreme heat in recent years has made the hand pump unusable, forcing us to walk up to two hours to find water,” she explains.

As members of the Dalit community, Bhago Devi and her neighbors are barred from using hand pumps in nearby villages. This systemic discrimination leaves them with no choice but to rely on distant rivers or hand pumps in other Dalit villages.

Previously, two ponds near Jhutki served as vital resources for the community, providing water for cattle, gardening, washing clothes, and cleaning utensils. However, a few years ago, the municipality filled one pond to build a local market and drained the other to construct a temple in its center. “Now, we have to fetch water not just for drinking but for all our daily needs,” Bhago Devi told ApEx.

“Women in my community have been walking at least four hours a day, often in two shifts, to fetch water since they were 10 years old,” she adds. The physical toll of this labor has led to menstrual health issues for many women. “The time spent fetching water leaves us with little opportunity to earn a living through other work,” she says.

The loss of the ponds has also deprived the community of their fishing livelihood, further exacerbating their economic struggles.

Case II

In Sisawani village, part of Lahan Municipality-22, the Sadaya community faces similar challenges. The village once had two ponds, but one was filled by the municipality to construct a road, and the other was handed over to the private sector. Now, villagers must pay Rs 100 per kilogram of fish they catch.

Despite these setbacks, the community has shown resilience by initiating collective efforts like community farming and establishing a savings fund. “We don’t face major issues with drinking water since we have a hand pump and a well, but irrigation for farming remains a challenge,” says Cheti Sadaya, 34. “Using the hand pump or well for irrigation dries them up quickly, and changing rainfall patterns make rainwater unreliable,” she explains.

A decade ago, monsoon rains were predictable and timely. Now, heavy rainfall often occurs during harvest time, damaging crops. “The municipality hasn’t provided any support for irrigation, so we struggle to manage,” Cheti says. “Our fishing livelihood is also gone.”

Case III

Aahale, in Dhangadhimai Municipality-12, Siraha, is home to 35 households from the Sadaya community. Despite being in the Tarai region, Aahale’s hilly terrain makes hand pumps impractical. Villagers rely on an electric submersible pump for water, but frequent breakdowns and costly repairs leave them without access for months.

“When the pump breaks down, it takes about six months to collect enough funds for repairs. During that time, we walk an hour to the nearest river to fetch water,” says Ganauri Sadaya, 47. “Relying on river water has led to frequent waterborne diseases in the village.”

A nearby community forest offers some relief, but access is restricted to Saturdays, and villagers must pay Rs 10 for entry. “We’re only allowed to carry as much firewood as we can in one trip, even though there’s plenty of dried wood that could be used or sold,” Ganauri laments.

Case IV

In Bihibare, another hilly region in Dhangadhimai-14, hand pumps are also unfeasible. Villagers store groundwater near rivers, but the sparse population means some households are an hour’s walk from the water source. “Women manage agriculture while men work abroad,” says Shova Thakuri, 34, whose husband has been in the Middle East for a decade. “We’re doing our best, but the changing climate makes it harder every year.”

A decade ago, rainfall began in April, but now it often arrives only in August or September, with heavy downpours destroying crops. “On my three bighas of land, I used to grow 2,000 kilograms of maize. Now, I’m lucky to get 200 kilograms,” says Bhakta Maya Thakuri, 65.

“Winter used to start in December and end by January, but now we face extreme heat in December and cold waves later,” she adds. “Potato plants dry up in December, and those that survive are damaged by late cold waves during harvest.”

The above cases highlight the intertwined challenges of climate change, resource degradation, and systemic inequality. Erratic rainfall and shifting weather patterns have disrupted traditional farming cycles, drastically reducing crop yields and threatening livelihoods. Women, who manage agriculture and daily survival while men seek employment abroad, bear the brunt of these changes.

The loss of public commons like ponds and forests has further exacerbated their struggles. Without reliable water infrastructure, villagers are forced to rely on rivers, increasing their vulnerability to waterborne diseases. Restrictions on forest access limit their ability to collect firewood, cutting off a vital resource.

Despite these challenges, communities are demonstrating resilience through collective efforts like community farming and savings funds. However, the lack of institutional support for irrigation and sustainable resource management underscores the need for urgent policy interventions to protect public commons and adapt to climate change.

Mahesh Prasad Chaudhary, mayor of Lahan Municipality, denies allegations that the municipality has filled ponds. He claims efforts are underway to expand remaining ponds and provide drinking water taps to every household by 2030. “We have already dug around 10 ponds and are collaborating with organizations to construct water tanks,” he says.

Shiva Shankar Mahato, mayor of Dhangadhimai Municipality, claims the Dalit communities “destroy hand pumps themselves,” shifting blame onto marginalized communities rather than addressing structural issues of inequality and inadequate infrastructure. 

The persistent struggle of Dalit communities to access clean water is a stark reminder of the need for inclusive policy-making and accountability at the local level.

Climate change demands cohesive action across governance levels. For Nepal—one of the most climate-vulnerable countries—the stakes are high. Increasing risks of floods, landslides, and droughts disproportionately affect marginalized groups, particularly women, intensifying the urgency for climate-resilient policies.

Public commons—forests, water sources, and grazing lands—are pivotal tools for climate resilience. However, these resources face growing strain from overexploitation, ineffective governance, and climate impacts. Recognizing their role in addressing climate challenges offers Nepal a sustainable path forward.

“Over the past decade or more, discussions on climate change have largely focused on emissions, but it is not the only pressing issue at hand,” says environmentalist Madhukar Upadhya. “There are many other concerns: loss of biodiversity, land and soil degradation, water shortages, declining productivity. At the heart of it all is the public commons, which is essential not only for maintaining a healthy environment but also for helping communities combat and mitigate the climate crisis.”

As the Climate Change Division falls under the Ministry of Forests and Environment, there have been strong policies and efforts regarding forests. However, there are no dedicated agencies or policies to oversee public commons. 

“Everyone benefits from public commons, but no one has taken responsibility for their protection. It has not even been able to be a part of climate dialogues,” says Upadhya.

The Local Government Operation Act 2017 establishes disaster management, environmental protection and conservation, land management, and natural resource management as joint responsibilities of the federal and provincial governments. However, the Act neglects to specifically address climate change risks and necessary adaptation interventions. Local governments, despite having environmental and disaster management units, often struggle to respond effectively to vulnerable communities—such as Dalits, indigenous groups, and women—due to limited capacity and resources.

Similarly, the Gender Equality Policy 2021 identifies cross-cutting areas to address the vulnerabilities of marginalized groups. However, sectoral policies often treat communities as homogenous entities, disregarding historical discrimination, contextual risks, and differential impacts. This approach risks isolating gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) strategies from broader development policies. While the policy acknowledges the vulnerabilities of women and marginalized groups, it does not recognize their roles as contributors and agents of change, which limits the scope of their involvement in driving climate action.

Furthermore, the National Forest Policy 2019 envisions sustainable and participatory forest management, conservation, and biodiversity protection. While it includes a sectoral GESI policy, it does not prioritize climate change issues or explicitly outline how women and socially excluded groups can benefit from initiatives like REDD+. Forest laws and policies lack a climate justice perspective to adequately protect and empower the poor, women, and marginalized groups disproportionately impacted by climate change. 

“None of our institutions are equipped to address emerging climate challenges, as they still operate under traditional policies,” says Upadhya. 

The loss of ponds has not only worsened water scarcity but also eliminated traditional fishing-based incomes, further deepening economic struggles

The recently organized Bagmati Province-Level Dialogue on ‘Localization of Climate Action: A Gender Lens on Public Commons Conservation and Justice’ in Hetauda underscored the importance of local climate actions enhanced by a gender-inclusive approach, focusing on conserving public commons and ensuring justice for all.  

During the event, a woman from indigenous community shared firsthand accounts of how climate change has impacted their lives. “Agriculture has been greatly affected due to the lack of rain during the rainy season and the continuous increase in temperature. Food production has declined, and irregularities in agriculture have made food supplies unsafe,” she explained. 

Another noted, “Whether it’s the heat or the lack of water and food, the fear of wild animals has increased. They destroy all our crops. If you defend yourself and kill an animal, you go to jail, but if a person dies, no one cares—especially for us slum dwellers, workers, landless, and marginalized groups.”

Subarna Ghimire, a local activist who is also a student of forestry, pointed out that the vulnerable communities lack information about the impacts of climate change. He stressed that  a comprehensive effort is needed to help communities understand and adapt.

Despite these systemic challenges, several local governments in Nepal have made commendable efforts to address climate risks and build resilience. Madi Municipality in Chitwan, for instance, has developed a Local Adaptation Action Plan (LAPA) that focuses on agriculture, water management, and disaster risk reduction. The municipality has implemented community-based water management projects, such as rainwater harvesting systems and the rezoning of traditional water sources, while also promoting climate-smart agricultural practices and drought-resistant crops. 

Similarly, Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City has prepared a Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (DRR-CCA) plan that integrates climate adaptation strategies with local emergency management. It has undertaken vulnerability assessments to address issues such as floods, heat waves, and water scarcity. The city has focused on promoting climate-resilient crops, training farmers in water conservation techniques, and establishing early warning systems along with flood protection infrastructure to enhance emergency preparedness. 

Meanwhile, Gorkha Municipality has integrated climate adaptation strategies into its urban development plan. It has prioritized building resilient infrastructure, including flood protection and irrigation systems, while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The municipality has also initiated community-based forest management projects to conserve natural resources and mitigate the risk of landslides.

In Rasuwa, local governments have introduced a Climate-Smart Village Plan to address climate challenges in remote and rural areas. These initiatives emphasize community participation in building climate resilience, particularly in the agricultural sector. The district has initiated watershed management projects to conserve soil and water resources while promoting alternative livelihoods such as eco-tourism. Farmers in the region have been trained in crop diversification, soil conservation techniques, and water-saving irrigation practices, further strengthening the local economy and climate resilience.

Nepal lacks dedicated policies to protect public commons like water sources and forests, making climate adaptation harder for marginalized groups

While these efforts are promising, they reveal persistent challenges, including weak coordination among federal, provincial, and local governments, conflicting jurisdictions, and overlapping responsibilities. The lack of comprehensive data on climate risks and resource constraints further hampers evidence-based planning and implementation. Addressing these challenges requires bridging gaps in policies, empowering local governments with resources and technical capacity, and fostering better coordination across governance levels.

“Local governments are primarily focused on increasing revenue, but they are overlooking how communities are living and struggling with the consequences,” says environmentalist Upadhya. “The constitution grants local governments the authority to manage natural resources, so they should prioritize their people and take action at the ground level.” 

As local governments are responsible for formulating their own policies, he suggests that the central government provide clear guidelines to help align these policies with a climate-focused approach. To build a more inclusive and climate-resilient future, Nepal must integrate gender-sensitive approaches and leverage the potential of public commons. Recognizing vulnerable groups as active agents of change in climate action, rather than passive recipients, is essential. 

Public commons hold immense potential for building climate resilience and supporting adaptation strategies. Forests and wetlands act as carbon sinks, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while healthy ecosystems mitigate the risks of floods, landslides, and droughts. Empowering women is essential, as they are the primary users and stewards of these resources in many rural communities. Integrating gender perspectives into climate policies can strengthen resource management and resilience efforts.

Provincial governments play a crucial role in bridging the gap between national and international commitments and local priorities. Frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) emphasize inclusive governance, providing Nepal with a pathway to integrate public commons into its climate solutions. 

Localizing climate actions requires developing tailored climate plans and budgets that address specific local needs while incorporating gender-sensitive approaches to ensure inclusive participation. Provincial and national synergy can be enhanced by aligning provincial policies with broader frameworks and facilitating data sharing and resource allocation for coherent governance. 

“The conservation of Nepal’s public commons is more than a localized issue. It’s a critical component of global climate strategies,” says Upadhya. “By integrating commons into climate policies and prioritizing gender-sensitive approaches, Nepal can empower its communities and combat the crisis of climate change.”