Nepal’s PM says floods ‘a warning to the world’ about climate change

Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah declared that his nation's recent catastrophic flooding serves as a warning to the global community about the escalating impacts of climate change. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Shah emphasized the need for international cooperation to help his country adapt to the increasingly destabilizing effects of a warming climate.

The Himalayan nation, responsible for less than 0.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, found itself the victim of a disaster it did not cause, incensed by the costs it bears. In the aftermath of the disaster, over 1,400 people perished, with thousands more still missing, and the economic toll surpassing billions of dollars. Scientists from World Weather Attribution have termed the event a "compound crisis" resulting from local geological instability combined with long-term warming, causing glacier retreat and permafrost thaw.

Shah proposed the creation of the "Himalaya Climate Resilience Mechanism," a collaborative effort among Nepal, India, and China to share satellite data, monitor glacial lakes, and enhance joint early warning systems. Nepal has sought US$20 million in aid from the UN's Loss and Damage fund, but the fund has only disbursed a fraction of what is needed, leaving the country in urgent need of financial assistance.

The United States has pledged an additional US$31 million in flood recovery support, and the United Kingdom has also committed to helping Nepal during this challenging time.