Climate change a common challenge, says government on Nepal Minister’s compensation demand

Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal recently urged major greenhouse gas emitters, including India, China, and the United States, to provide climate-related compensation to vulnerable countries. The call for compensation came in the wake of devastating floods that struck Nepal on August 26, resulting in the loss of 1,259 lives and leaving nearly 5,000 people missing.

These floods were caused by the collapse of a glacier near Langtang National Park, which sent a torrent of water and debris through the Lhende Khola, Bhotekoshi, and Trishuli river valleys.

In response to Khanal's remarks, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reaffirmed India's position that developed countries must take the lead in tackling climate change, emphasizing that action should be based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Jaiswal noted that India had promptly extended support to the Nepalese government and its people in the reconstruction and recovery efforts following the disaster.

Khanal's comments referred to United Nations data indicating that India, China, and the US together account for 45 to 48 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. India, being the world's third-largest emitter, is responsible for seven to eight percent of global emissions. The Nepal-Tibet border region bore the brunt of the devastating floods, which were reportedly linked to the collapse of ice and rock from a high-altitude glacier.