Nepal to use new flood study to claim millions from UN climate disaster fund

Nepal is set to utilize a recent study that links climate change to last month's deadly floods, in order to seek financial assistance from a United Nations fund. The BBC reports that Nepal aims to claim approximately $20 million (£15 million) from the UN Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, which aids countries affected by climate change. A staggering 1,400 people have lost their lives, while 6,150 remain missing as of Wednesday, according to official records.

World Weather Attribution, a research group, released a study on Thursday claiming that climate change likely contributed to the catastrophic event. Dr. Friederike Otto, a climatologist from Imperial College London and co-author of the study, affirmed that human-induced climate change played a role in the disaster, emphasizing the "absolutely no doubt" regarding its impact.

The floods wreaked havoc across border towns and villages, destroying thousands of homes, energy infrastructure, and leaving numerous lives lost or unaccounted for.

The disaster was a "compound event" caused by rising temperatures, thinning glaciers, thawing permafrost and pre-existing geological weaknesses, as stated by the study. July and August temperatures in the region were around 1.5°C (2.7°F) warmer "due to human influence on the climate", while glaciers in the area had been thinning by about half a meter (1.6ft) annually. Heavy snowfall in October and November in the previous year added to a significant amount of meltwater early this year.

Nepal's leaders have estimated that around $5 billion (£3.7 billion) is needed to rebuild the country. The UN Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, established last year, requires countries to provide evidence proving that the losses they faced were caused by climate change. Nepali officials have been preparing satellite and drone images, as well as preliminary reports, to support their request to the fund.

However, the World Weather Attribution report is now the strongest evidence for their claim that climate change played a significant role in the rock and ice collapse at Langtang Lirung.

Nepal's Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, is scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week to discuss the recent disaster and climate justice. Climate adaptation specialist Danya Liu of BloombergNEF pointed out that Nepal's claim for "compensation" represents a polluter-pays model, as opposed to an approach where affected countries bear the majority of costs and rely on aid to bridge the gaps.

Although nearly 120 countries have submitted claims to the UN Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, totalling nearly $3 billion (£2.2 billion), the fund currently has less than $400 million (£300 million) allocated for disbursement. Nepalese authorities have received varying levels of support from some countries to expedite funds to Nepal, while others emphasize the importance of adhering to rules and procedures.

A meeting is scheduled for December to determine which requests will be accepted and whether an urgent decision will be made for Nepal.