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

Nepal's government is demanding climate compensation from carbon-emitting nations following devastating landslides and flooding, rejecting humanitarian aid as a solution. Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal, in an interview, shifted Nepal's diplomatic stance from seeking assistance to demanding justice and compensation, emphasizing the country's historical lack of carbon emissions while suffering the consequences.

Major emitters, including China, the U.S., and India, are accused of historical responsibility for the crisis. Khanal highlighted the catastrophic scale of the disaster, describing water heights of 20 to 30 meters and speeds of 180 km/h as a "Himalayan tsunami." The Nepali Ministry of Finance formally notified international partners of the demand for compensation, stressing it was not for Nepal's benefit alone but for the survival of over 2 billion South Asians dependent on Himalayan glaciers.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah echoed the demand for international action, warning the situation was a major disaster for the region and risks were increasing with climate change. Confirmed deaths surpassed 1,000, with thousands more missing, straining regional water security.