From news headlines to exposing shared risks: Strengthening Transboundary Climate and Disaster Reporting in Nepal and India

“We always only wrote news about the problem,” said Kalpana Bhattarai, a Kathmandu-based investigative journalist. “But we realized we can also incorporate a solution to the problem. And this particular note was really a good thing, plus a new thing to me.” 

Bhattarai was among 20 media professionals from Nepal and India who gathered in Kathmandu under UNESCO’s initiative Strengthening Transboundary Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Reporting in the Nepal and India . The initiative aimed to equip journalists with better understanding of how climate-related disasters cross borders and how reporting can reflect the shared risks faced by communities across the region and forge shared pathways to better tackle the risks. 

Across the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), climate-related hazards are increasingly affecting communities across shared river basins. Floods, landslides, and extreme rainfall continue to impact communities connected by shared rivers and ecosystems. Because of the interconnected river basins, impacts often extend beyond national borders. 

Official records stand as a testament to the severity of these events. According to the Nepal Disaster Report 2024 , the 2023 monsoon period recorded 16 flood-related deaths, 21 missing persons, seven injuries, and 3,726 affected households. During the same monsoon period, landslides caused 45 deaths, nine missing persons, 50 injuries, and affected 1,948 households. According to monsoon statistics updated by Nepal’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (covering 10 June–12 October 2024) , floods caused 90 deaths, 18 missing persons and 45 injuries, affecting 2,227 families, while landslides resulted in 343 deaths, 48 missing persons and 276 injuries, affecting 1,561 families . 

One of the most destructive episodes occurred in late September 2024, when days of intense rainfall triggered widespread flooding and landslides. An UN Early Recovery Cluster update released in November 2024 confirmed 250 fatalities, 18 missing persons and 178 injuries, alongside significant housing damage, particularly in Bagmati Province. Nepal’s Department of Hydrology and Meteorology documented record-breaking rainfall during the 27–29 September 2024 event, reporting new 24-hour precipitation records at multiple stations. 

The impacts transcended Nepal’s borders. Rivers flowing from the Himalaya carried floodwaters downstream into India’s Bihar state affecting between 1.757 million and 4.5 million people, depending on the reporting period and geographic coverage. These cascading effects illustrate how communities along shared river systems face interconnected risks, even when disasters originate far upstream. 

Beyond seasonal disasters, scientists are increasingly concerned about the growing threat of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). As Himalayan glaciers melt due to rising temperatures, lakes form behind fragile natural dams of ice and debris. If these dams collapse, significant volumes of water can flow rapidly downstream, affecting infrastructure, agricultural land, and settlements. Because many major rivers cross national borders, a single GLOF can affect communities in multiple countries. 

But statistics tell only part of the story. 

The stories produced by participating journalists focused on how these hazards are affecting everyday lives across the region. Rather than concentrating solely on damage figures, their reporting highlighted the experiences of farmers, families and communities living in environments with increasing uncertainty. 

Journalists examined how rapid infrastructure development and construction are reshaping and weakening fragile landscapes. From road construction in steep terrains to expanding hydropower projects, these changes increase the risk for landslide and can alter natural water flows, compounding the effects of extreme weather. 

Voices from border regions such as Nepal’s Madhesh and India’s Bihar region highlighted the shared nature of disaster risk. Local communities shared how annual floods disrupt schooling, healthcare and livelihoods, forcing families to frequently rebuild homes and at times, displacement. Their experiences reflect how communities separated by political boundaries often face the same environmental challenges. 

Five cross-border stories were produced and published after the workshop. The stories examine issues ranging from GLOF risks and governance challenges to early warning gaps and the impacts of climate change on communities living along the border. These stories were carried by multiple national and regional media outlets, helping to bring transboundary perspectives into public discussion.  

“Joint media initiatives can bridge information gaps, influence disaster policy, and foster accountability around disaster risk reduction”, said Jaco Du Toit, UNESCO Representative to Nepal. 

For many participants, the experience encouraged application of a broader perspective on reporting. Instead of focusing only on individual disasters, they have begun examining how climate change, development pressures and environmental shifts interact across the region. Training in satellite imagery, mapping tools, and open data sources helped participants better understand how hazards develop and spread across borders. 

Building on the momentum, UNESCO is collaborating with ten media organizations to further strengthen climate and disaster reporting. Journalists will receive hands-on training in digital mapping, AI tools and national disaster databases such as Bipad and DesInventar . Media outlets will develop preparedness plans and pilot UNESCO’s Model Disaster Preparedness Plan , while sharing their experiences through regional exchanges. 

In addition, Nepali media will co-lead cross-border reporting initiatives with India and Sri Lanka on displacement, heritage, and disaster risk reduction, with women and youth journalists in leadership roles, scaling up institutional resilience and fostering regional collaboration. 

These efforts reflect the importance of proactive information sharing and cooperation for advancing climate action, resilient communities, and access to information. Strengthening access to accurate information remains central to building resilient institutions and communities