Climate Change, Gender, and Adaptive Capacity in Nepal’s Rural Communities

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between climate change, gender, and adaptive capacity in Nepal’s rural communities. Using a qualitative thematic review of empirical studies, policy documents, and case-based evidence, the study explores how climate change affects rural livelihoods and how social inequalities shape communities’ ability to adapt. The findings show that climate-related hazards, including erratic rainfall, floods, droughts, and landslides, threaten agriculture, food security, and health, with greater impacts on women, Indigenous groups, and marginalized communities. These vulnerabilities are linked to unequal access to resources, information, decision-making power, and institutional support. Although rural communities use local knowledge and traditional adaptation practices, these efforts require stronger policy recognition and institutional support,guided by principles of climate justice and equity. The study highlights that adaptive capacity is shaped not only by environmental conditions but also by gender relations, socio-economic status, and governance systems. It argues that effective climate adaptation in Nepal requires gender-responsive, socially inclusive, and locally grounded approaches that strengthen community resilience and address structural inequalities.