EarthBeat Weekly: Nepal disaster latest in summer of environmental catastrophes

Nepal flood disaster latest in summer of environmental catastrophes   EarthBeat Weekly Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change September 4, 2026   A drone view shows mud covering properties at Trishuli in Nepal's Nuwakot district Aug. 27, 2026, following devastating floods. (OSV News/Reuters/Navesh Chitrakar) The images and videos coming out of Nepal have been nothing short of horrifying.  Walls of water and debris hundreds of feet high traveling at top speeds over 100 miles per hour wiping out villages and river communities in the mountain valleys of central Nepal and Tibet. More than 1,000 people have died, with thousands more missing.  The flash flooding on Aug. 26 is believed to have been triggered by a combination of a landslide and melting glacier nearly a mile above in the Himalayas. Scientists are still studying what role climate change may have played in this catastrophe, though it is known that glaciers around the world have been melting and shedding ice at increasing rates for decades due to rising temperatures resulting from burning coal, oil and gas. The Himalayas are heating two times as fast as the global average. Meanwhile, the immensity of the destruction is already apparent. "Nothing is left there," Sr. Oliva Kujur, a Sister of Charity of Nazareth, told Chris Herlinger, international correspondent for Global Sisters Report, following an initial assessment of the damage in rural Nepal Aug. 30. A report on the damage, conducted by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Kathmandu and the Nepal Jesuit Social Institute, "observed severe damage to housing, farmland, and vital infrastructure. Urgent priorities include safe drinking water, shelter assistance, medical care, sanitation, and long-term recovery support."  Other Catholic organizations are involved in the response, including Caritas Nepal and Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops' international aid agency.  "Many of the main roads have been washed away, either fully or partly," Senthil Kumar Gurunathan, CRS country representative for India, told OSV News. "So what we are trying to do is to find alternative routes, working with local people to see what are the existing motorable roads. These may not be the main roads, but these are lifesaving roads, still intact." On Sunday, Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims, their families and rescue workers. "May the concern of everyone help to alleviate the suffering and provide the necessary aid to the people affected," he said.  A moment of hope emerged Friday when rescue teams pulled two men alive from a tunnel, where more than 40 others were believed trapped inside as well. Days earlier, the story came to light (see below) of a school principal whose quick decision-making helped 900 students safely evacuate to higher ground before the flood waters arrived 13 minutes later, wiping away the school in its relentless currents.  Read more:  Nepal floods leave 'nothing' behind as Catholic nuns mobilize aid Catholic aid worker in Nepal sees 'long road' to recovery after flooding, mudslides Catholic agencies respond to Nepal floods, as US bishop calls for greater international aid The flash flooding in Nepal is just the latest of a series of major environmental disasters to strike across the world this summer.  Extreme flooding has also occurred in other parts of Asia, as well as Ghana, Peru and across the U.S., while major earthquakes have razed parts of South America and East Asia. Wildfires have sparked across the U.S., Canada, Spain and France. And extreme heat waves have dotted the global map. "It definitely is unusual," John Service, a senior technical adviser for the CRS humanitarian response team for 13 years, told me for a story this week. "This is more than we normally have at one time." The flurry of natural and weather-related disasters this summer comes as international aid has experienced extensive cutbacks, including from the United States. While some new grants have been awarded and new funding sources tapped, the decline in funding — and with it personnel — has strained efforts of relief organizations like CRS to quickly respond. An increasing contributing factor to disasters is climate change, which in the case of hurricanes, storms, wildfires, heat waves and flooding is magnifying the intensity.  So many people in Nepal "have lost everything," Gurunathan told me. "They don't even have a change of clothes right now." "This is a traumatic experience they have just been through. They need to know that they are not alone," he said. "They need your prayers and your support. They need it now and they'll need [it] for weeks and months to come." Read more: Devastating floods in Nepal pile on 'unusual' summer of environmental disasters What else is new on EarthBeat:   Pope asks Catholics to acknowledge 'unfaithful' attitudes for care of creation by Justin McLellan Celebrating a new form of the Catholic Mass "for the care of creation," Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to contemplate nature as well as the ways they have shirked their responsibility to care for it. Read more here »   Vatican body develops concept of 'ecological sin' in spiritual salvo on the environment by Justin McLellan In a sprawling document published Sept. 2, the Vatican's International Theological Commission makes the case for developing an "ecological spirituality" in light of the Christian understanding of the Triune God. Read more here »   When sisters lead the way: Faith, climate and the work of regeneration in Kenya by Sr. Catherine Ciingi Farmer-managed natural regeneration training helped sisters in Isiolo, Kenya, equip themselves and the wider community with practical skills for restoring degraded land. Read more here »   During the Season of Creation, remember the living water that sustains all life by Daniel P. Horan That water is a symbol of healing and renewal makes a lot of sense. Most of our human bodies are made up of water, and all other creatures also require water for survival. But we humans can take water for granted. Read more here »   Wendell Berry, writer and farmer, was extolled by many as a modern-day prophet by Yonat Shimron, Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service His writings touched on conservation, community and belonging, and he acquired legions of fans beyond environmental studies — including many scholars of religion. Read more here » What's happening in other climate news: Climate goals missed, U.N. says world must now remove carbon at scale —Chico Harlan for The New York Times NPR spent 2 years tracking deaths from heat. We found a staggering hidden toll —Alejandra Borunda for NPR A principal saved 900 students before his school was washed away in Nepal —Binod Ghimire and Claire Moses for The New York Times Trump's quietly working to give part of Yosemite to a private developer —Anna Kramer for NOTUS How intense rains in the Grand Canyon turned into a deadly disaster —Gabrielle Canon for the Guardian No one knows all the toxic chemicals you're eating —Liza Gross for Inside Climate News United Nations talks in Mongolia expose growing drought crisis as climate impacts worsen —Sibi Arasu for the Associated Press Power plant endangerment repeal enters White House review —Jean Chemnick for E&E News Meet the super PAC working to crush clean energy's political foes —Julian Spector for Canary Media Final Beat: The Season of Creation began Tuesday (Sept. 1) with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. That day, Pope Leo celebrated the newly added Mass formulary "for the care of creation" in the gardens of Borgo Laudato Si'.  Those looking for other ways to mark the monthlong Season of Creation can check out Season of Creation Daily, a series of 34 reflections created by Peter McLoughlin, co-facilitator of the creation care team at the Paulist Center in Boston.  The short reflections pair a photo with quotes from saints, pope, theologians, environmentalists and other writers before offering a few reflection questions to ponder.  The first iteration of Season of Creation Daily was published here at EarthBeat. They were last updated in 2025 and can be found at SeasonofCreationDaily.org.  As always, thanks for reading EarthBeat.   Brian Roewe Environment Correspondent National Catholic Reporter broewe@ncronline.org     Featured Advertisers   Experience a transformative pilgrimage to Poland: private guides, local encounters, and formation-based travel led by US founders who lived there.   Advertisement