Integrating global carbon concerns into local air pollution management and the in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

The report analyzes the relationship between urban transportation, energy consumption, and emissions in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It finds that while CO2 emissions are relatively low globally, local PM10 levels frequently exceed national standards. The study proposes a 'PACKAGE' scenario—combining travel demand management, modal shifts to high-occupancy public transport, and stricter emission standards—as the most effective way to simultaneously reduce congestion, energy use, and pollutants.

• Motorised travel demand in the Kathmandu Valley grew 8.7-fold between 1989 and 2004, rising from nearly one billion to 8.7 billion passenger-km, and is projected to reach 27 billion passenger-km by 2025.
• High-occupancy public transport (buses and minibuses) is significantly more efficient than private transport; they meet 37% of travel demand while consuming only 13% of total energy and comprising only 1.4% of the total vehicle population.
• Air quality monitoring indicates that PM10 concentrations in the Valley are twice the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) limits during winter months.
• CO2 emissions from passenger transportation in the Valley increased 5.2 times between 1989 and 2004, reaching 537 thousand tonnes, and are estimated to double by 2025.
• The 'PACKAGE' scenario, which integrates small-scale improvements across the Activity-Structure-Intensity-Fuel (ASIF) framework, is the most effective strategy, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by 20%, PM10 emissions by 47%, and energy use by 18% by 2025.
• Tightening emission standards to EURO-II by 2010 can significantly reduce pollutants, but further tightening to EURO-III by 2015 provides only nominal additional benefits by 2025.
• A shift toward high-occupancy public transport would reduce congestion and energy use but could increase PM10 emissions by 23% by 2025 if not accompanied by improved vehicle emission standards.
• The use of electric vehicles (EVs) is feasible in the Valley due to flat topography and low speeds, and would reduce oil imports and CO2 emissions, though its impact on congestion is negligible.

APA

Dhakal, S. (n.d.). Integrating global carbon concerns into local air pollution management and the in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://leap.sei.org/documents/iges_start_final_reprot.pdf

Chicago

Dhakal, Shobhakar. Integrating global carbon concerns into local air pollution management and the in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d. https://leap.sei.org/documents/iges_start_final_reprot.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dhakal |first1=Shobhakar |title=Integrating global carbon concerns into local air pollution management and the in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |url=https://leap.sei.org/documents/iges_start_final_reprot.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dhakalndintegrating, author = {Dhakal, Shobhakar}, title = {{Integrating global carbon concerns into local air pollution management and the in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://leap.sei.org/documents/iges_start_final_reprot.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }