Nepal demands compensation, not charity, after climate-linked disaster

Following a devastating landslide and flooding event, Nepal's government is demanding climate compensation from major emitters rather than mere humanitarian aid. Speaking to the Kantipur network, Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal explained that Nepal's diplomatic stance has shifted from seeking assistance to demanding justice and compensation for the disaster's legal and moral ramifications.

He emphasized that while Nepal's carbon footprint is minimal, the nation is suffering due to a global crisis it did not create. Khanal cited China, the United States, and India as primary historical polluters and held them accountable for providing compensation to vulnerable nations like Nepal. The Ministry of Finance has formally sent a letter to international partners demanding compensation, stressing that this issue is of civilizational significance.

The term "flood" is insufficient to describe the disaster; Khanal described it as a "Himalayan tsunami" with wave heights reaching 20 to 30 meters and wind speeds of 180 kilometers per hour. Over 1,000 people were killed, and 3,916 remain missing or out of contact, with 987 confirmed deaths and 546 missing persons in Tibet alone.