Nepal PM demands climate action after Himalayan disaster

Nepalese Prime Minister Balendra Shah has called for global action following a catastrophic flood in the Himalayas, attributing the disaster to climate change. The flood, triggered by a glacial collapse on the China-Nepal border, resulted in at least 939 deaths and nearly 4,500 people still missing. The Nepalese government estimates the reconstruction costs could reach "billions of dollars."

According to Shah, this flood was not an ordinary event but a major disaster driven by climate change, which is causing glaciers worldwide to melt at an accelerated rate. He stressed the need for vigilance in the Himalayan region, given the increasing risks associated with climate change. Nepal, despite contributing little to global emissions, is heavily impacted by the consequences of climate change.

The prime minister urged the international community to address the issue of disasters resulting from climate change. The Himalayan region, home to around 240 million people and 1.65 billion people in downstream river valleys, is crucial for water supply. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had previously warned about the rapid melting of glaciers in these regions.

Following the disaster, U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell described it as a "devastating reminder" of the fragility of mountain environments. Nepal's economy is already strained, with limited resources to cope with such a large-scale disaster.