Rich nations should foot climate bill, says Nepal minister

Wealthy nations must shoulder their responsibility to assist countries least responsible for climate change, yet facing its consequences, Nepal's Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal told AFP. Last month, a tsunami-like flood triggered by a high-altitude glacial collapse along the Nepal-China border caused catastrophic damage, killing over 1,400 people and leaving 6,000 missing.

The economic losses amount to billions of dollars. Khanal emphasized that climate change is no longer a theoretical issue, but a pressing real-world concern, with disaster frequency likely to increase as temperatures rise and glaciers melt. Scientists from World Weather Attribution described the event as a "compound crisis," combining local geological instability with long-term warming effects.

Unlike other nations, Nepal has contributed negligibly to global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for just 0.1% of the world's total. Khanal argued that rich countries should not only provide aid during disasters but also offer financing to build resilient communities. The US$5 billion cost of the disaster has already prompted responses from the United States, the G7, and Britain.

However, Nepal's government estimates the total cost at $5 billion, far exceeding the current UN Loss and Damage fund's meager $20 million allocation. Despite receiving support from neighboring countries and the Nepalese diaspora, Nepal's disaster preparedness remains lacking, calling for more advanced systems and technical assistance from international institutions.